Nick Clegg announces plans to cut red tape for small businesses  

Below are extracts from his speech: "The debate over regulation has been polarised around two extremes - on the one hand is the idea that it fixes every problem. Rules, targets, monitoring, endless government diktats to chivvy business in the right direction; mountains of form-filling so we can keep an eye on you. “Previously, the approach has been ‘when in doubt, legislate’. We saw it in public services, in the criminal justice system and, on average, British businesses were lumbered with six new regulations every working day. Thousands of different rules were left on the statute books - because new rules are free; they’re easy; they make Ministers feel in control. “On the other hand, you have the deregulation diehards who say we should scrap it all. They oppose regulation vehemently; on principle. The state has no business...