Now the chief executive of Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, has called for an overhaul of the way companies are regulated to allow firms to spend more time developing their business.

Stephen Shore made the statement after it was revealed that enforcing new laws last year had cost businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber £800 million.

According to the British Chamber of Commerce's Business Barometer survey, the cost of introducing new company regulations in the region since 1998 has been £4.8 billion.

Across the UK, that cost is almost £66 billion since 1998, the report claims.

The Business Barometer is a study compiled by the London and Manchester Business Schools to establish the cost of introducing new laws.

When the first study was published in 2001 the cost to UK companies was £10 billion.

Mr Shore said: "Doncaster is experiencing rapid economic regeneration for the benefit of the town's businesses and communities.

"Imagine how much more productive the town could be if the regulatory burden on our businesses was reduced and companies could concentrate on developing their business rather than jumping through regulatory hoops."

According to the survey, the biggest cost to business is complying with the Working Time Regulation Act on which companies spend nearly £1.8 billion each year.

Next comes vehicle excise duty which costs more than £1.2 billion and the Data Protection Act which costs £667 million.

However, the Fire Regulatory Reform Order, which saw companies become responsible for enforcing fire safety, saved firms £67 million last year.

Following the publication of the report the chamber now wants to see a review of the Data Protection Act and the Flexible Working Regulations Act.

Mr Shore added: "Initiatives without delivery will do nothing to help keep British businesses competitive.

"We desperately need an impact assessment system that will challenge the need for regulation and a parliamentary process established that provides real independent oversight.