Downing Street has not dismissed Beecroft proposals

Downing Street has made clear that David Cameron has not dismissed the Beecroft proposals out of hand.

A spokeswoman said the Prime Minister was weighing up options for making it easier for businesses to employ people and achieve growth, but was not "wedded" to any particular solution.

The report by Adrian Beecroft was commissioned by the Business Department and submitted in October, but it has been kept under wraps amid reports of friction between Tory and Lib Dem ministers.