Keep it simple, says MP

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 28th Nov 2003

Don Foster MP

Beaconsfield Liberal Democrats were addressed last night by Bath MP Don Foster, who told them that the government was pushing through too much legislation and even MPs struggled to understand its complexity.

Don spoke of the time-consuming ping-pong match between the Lords and the Commons over proposals for foundation hospitals which the government finally managed to push through with a small majority.

Don quoted examples of rules fixing the size of print on food cans in mathematical expressions no ordinary person could understand. He read out the formula used to tell local councils how much money they would get from the government to run their social services department. It was so long and illogical that it tied civil servants and officials up in knots just understanding it.

Don criticized the government for packing the Queen's Speech with far too much new legislation. He came to Beaconsfield straight from the House of Commons where he had heard the maiden speech of Sarah Teather, 29, the newest and youngest MP and victor of the Brent East by election. She told the House that she was still paying off her student loan and deplored government proposals for student top-up fees.