Red tape inhibits industry growth

There are far too many government regulations for small hotels and restaurants to cope with on their own, concludes a report just published.

The document, compiled by the Better Regulation Task Force and entitled Tackling the Impact of Increasing Regulation, examines the burden of red tape on hotels and restaurants.

The task force asked the Government to explain the rules applying to restaurants and hotels.

In return it was given 70 booklets containing 1,500 pages of instructions.

The task force found that "regulation has reached the point where there is too much for anyone to master on their own, putting small hotels and restaurants at a competitive disadvantage against larger businesses".

The report warned that too much regulation in the industry was "inhibiting growth".

Ian McKerracher, chief executive of the Restaurant Association, said: "We call on the Government to take these concerns seriously and act swiftly to lift the burden on restaurants."

For full details of the report see: www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/index/task.htm