THE North-East Chamber of Commerce has welcomed Prime Minister Tony Blair's commitment to help reduce the burden of bureaucracy weighing down businesses in the region.

"The message clearly getting through is that over-regulation can choke the competitiveness of business," said the chief executive of the UK's biggest Chamber, Michael Bird.

"We took up the issue last summer and, after gathering information from members, took case studies to Brussels to press for a reduction in the amount of legislation being issued.

"We have also raised the issue with Mo Mowlam and recently enlisted the support of Lord Haskins, chairman of the Better Regulation Task Force so we feel we have managed to make our point to those who can genuinely address the system."

The Chamber argument is based upon examples such as:

l A 100,000-word dossier on the disposal of waste electronic equipment.

l Rules under which service providers, such as companies employing cleaners, could be held responsible by their staff for actions of the customers - unless they undertake a lengthy, complicated and costly exemption process;

l Fears of huge disruption to micro firms whose workers take up unpaid parental leave option.

Mr Bird added: "It seems the Prime Minister is challenging the regulators to evaluate the time and cost implications of their actions and to justify the need for new rules."