Introductory text

the Secretary of State is of the opinion that certain provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973^f1 impose burdens affecting persons in the carrying on of a trade, business, profession or otherwise and that by amending or repealing the provisions concerned it is possible to remove or reduce the burdens without removing any necessary protection;

he has consulted such organisations as appear to him to be representative of interests substantially affected by his proposals and such other persons as he considers appropriate;

it appears to the Secretary of State that it is appropriate, following that consultation, to proceed with the making of this Order;

a document setting out the Secretary of State’s proposals has been laid before Parliament in accordance with section 3 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994^f2 and the period for Parliamentary consideration under section 4 of that Act has expired;

the Secretary of State has had regard to the representations made during that period;

a draft of this Order has been laid before Parliament with a statement giving details of such representations and the changes (if any) to the Secretary of State’s proposals in the light of those representations; and

a draft of this Order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament: