The Government's announcement that it is to review all health and safety laws with a view to scrapping any that put an unnecessary burden on business should only be the start of a "regulation bonfire", according to Institute of Directors West Midlands chairman John Rider.

He wants to see far more fundamental reform of barriers to business.

He said: "The Government has grasped the nettle on health and safety and that is to be welcomed.

"The commitment to a full review of existing health and safety law under Professor Ragnar Lofstedt has the potential to be a 'game-changer' and the IoD will be making early suggestions on ways to ease the burden on business.

"But this is only part of the problem.

"It is a good start - now let's have some movement on other red tape issues."

Mr Rider said the Coalition was moving "nowhere near fast enough".

He went on: "We welcome the attention the Government is giving to the subject of deregulation. Business Secretary Vince Cable's rhetoric is positive and there are some potentially helpful initiatives being proposed.

"Overall, though, the stance is disappointing. The Government hasn't identified any new laws for removal. 

"Indeed, it is actually committed to creating new burdens on business with measures such as the abolition of the default retirement age, new rules on agency workers and auto-enrolment pensions.

"It is therefore essential that ministers throw all their efforts into coming up with some substantial deregulatory proposals. Their efforts so far are simply not good enough."