Regulatory Costs Spiral

The BBC Today Programme typically ran an item on the horrendous costs of EU regulations shortly after the broadcast began at six am! Few will have heard, fewer can do so now as the first item available at present on the Listen Again facility is the garbage chosen by Gordon Brown for today's propaganda media distraction is on the religion for the royal accession at 0709! The Daily Mail, being the Daily Mail, carries the story but lays much of the emphasis of the costs upon the Labour Party. Other newspapers seem to be ignoring the report, so I will quote from the Mail:

Rules originating within the UK cost £23.4billion but – in a sign of the growing power of Brussels – red tape drafted by the EU cost £53.3billion.

The most expensive measure was the working-time directive,

lays down a maximum 48-hour week. This has cost firms an estimated £17.8billion. Steps to reduce carbon emissions from company vehicles have added £10.4billion while the Data Protection Act has cost £8billion.

The 19 newest regulations – including forcing power firms to cut carbon emissions from homes – have landed businesses with a £1.75billion bill.

Eighteen regulations brought in since 1998 have saved businesses £1.4billion. These include making workplaces smoke free.

Those in the EU fantasy bubble have yet to realise that their national funding will soon and unavoidably vanish! What the consequences for them and many others is hard to guess but unnecessary costs at this level could never sensibly have been entertained let alone enacted!