A new system may help small businesses escape red tape when new layers of bureaucracy are introduced by the Government. The Government is making an effort to ‘think small first’, so Impact Assessments (IAs) of new policy proposals will be used to consider what effects regulations would have on small enterprises. Under the IA process, Government departments must show they have considered alternatives before introducing new rules. The new IAs will replace the previous Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs). Find out more.