Tories’ red tape aims miss target, says study

Open Europe published on the 30 March 2010 what it called the most comprehensive study to date on the cost of regulation to the UK economy. Based on over 2,300 of the Government's own impact assessments, Open Europe claims that regulation has cost the UK economy £176 billion since 1998 - roughly equivalent to the country's entire budget deficit. Of this amount, £124 billion, or 71%, had its origin in EU legislation.

Open Europe: Press Release, 30.3.10: EU regulation has cost the UK £124 billion since 1998, 71% of the total cost http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=135

Open Europe: Still out of control? Measuring eleven years of EU regulation, March 2010 http://www.openeurope.org.uk/research/stilloutofcontrol.pdf

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