Business stifled by red-tape - Thurso

12.00.00am GMT Sat 28th Mar 2009

Figures commissioned by the British Chamber of Commerce suggest that red-tape has cost businesses around £77 billion under Labour. Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Business John Thurso said "Red-tape remains an overwhelming cost and one that hits small and medium sized businesses particularly hard. Ministers have completely failed to reduce this burden which is especially onerous in the current economic climate."

The figures take into account regulations passed both in Westminster and Brussels. The BCC called for a complete halt to the introduction of new regulation, particularly in the case of small businesses.