Dealers are to benefit from less regulations as the European Commission prepares to withdraw around a third of pending laws in a bid to cut ‘red tape’ and boost the European economy.

Proposals to bring the pay of temporary workers into line with full-time employees and the imposition of weekend bans on lorry drivers are just two of the pieces of legislation the commission has marked for withdrawal. More cuts are thought to be in the pipeline.

The Retail Motor Industry Federation’s chief executive Matthew Carrington said: “Although the majority of laws that are being scrapped in this first phase of deregulation may not be directly related to the retail motor sector, the fact that they are being withdrawn signals the commission’s intent to reduce the legislative burden on businesses in Europe.

“This can only be a good thing for the European economy and, in the longer term, businesses within the retail motor sector.’