PRESS RELEASE

17 April 2003

Government regulation hits Croydon business says Ottaway

Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South, has expressed concern over the results of his Budget Survey of local businesses which showed that increased government regulation is a significant handicap to running a business (see survey results).

Richard Ottaway says:-

"The proliferation of regulation is having a negative impact on Croydon's economy. The most devastating comment is that 66% of those surveyed believe that Britain is less competitive than it was in 1997".

"The Government should get off the back of Croydon's businesses and let local enterprise flourish"

ends.

For further information, please call 020 7219 6392.