Business leaders in Essex say the amount of red tape they have to deal with continues to "adversely affect" company performance.

Said Geoff Slyfield, chairman of the Essex branch of the Institute of Directors, said: "It red tape is particularly difficult for small businesses affected as the directors themselves often have to spend valuable time working out what the regulation means and how to comply."

He said that the European Union's latest report on better regulation does "not fully address the needs of business."

Published Wednesday, February 20, 2002