The full impact of council enforced regulations on businesses is set out in a survey of a thousand companies carried out by Ipsos MORI for the formal launch of the Local Better Regulation Office. It shows that seven out of ten of them feel the regulations can be as big a burden as tax and employment law.
Clive Grace, who chairs LBRO, said the survey was the most comprehensive picture yet of the impact of local regulation on business. 

Ofsted inspectors say today that pupils can benefit significantly from getting involved with activities outside the classroom but some schools do not incorporate them in the curriculum because of concerns about health and safety, costs or staff workloads. A report today finds that well-planned activities not only enhance learning, but can also re-engage pupils who are hard to motivate. 

The Commission for Rural Communities has published five studies putting the spotlight on transport challenges facing rural areas, ranging from accessibility to key services, the effects of technological change and implications of road pricing.
Rural people travel around 10,000 miles each year compared with around 7,000 for all residents, and use of cars is significantly higher in rural areas.