Chamber concerned as regulations burden on business tops £50 billion
08/03/2006
The Chamber, which represents businesses in Bedfordshire and Luton, has expressed concern over a report showing that the cost to business of regulations continues to increase. According to the British Chambers of Commerce Burdens Barometer, an independent calculation of the costs to business based on the government’s own figures, the total cost has risen from £39 billion in 2005 to over £50 billion in 2006.
Commenting on the figures, Cheryl Smart, Commercial Director of the Chamber said:
'We know from speaking to our members that businesses are fed up with paying for Government regulation. Businesses must be free to compete in the global economy. As well as increasing costs, businesses regularly tell us that they are having to divert valuable time from running their businesses to dealing with more and more paperwork'
'While we recognise the need for proportionate regulation, the Government must ensure that new regulations are well targeted and excessive burdens are cut back. Unnecessary burdens are not a sustainable option for our firms'
Added Cheryl:
'We support the Government's current agenda to cut the cost of regulation but as the BCC's figures show, the need to get this right has never been greater. Businesses have heard many promises in the past but 2006 must be the year of delivery. Employers need to see a real difference in the day-to-day operation of their business'
