Thursday, January 31, 2013
Meanwhile - in the U.K. - Too Much Government?
In the U.K. Daily Mail, Jack Doyle began his recent article with this, and there's more:
"Public officials have around 1,400 separate powers to enter homes – including the right to inspect fridges and even pot plants.
The number of ‘snooping’ powers available to town halls and public bodies has risen despite Coalition pledges to rein them in.
Among those which remain are powers to enter a home ‘to see if pot plants have plant pests or do not have a plant passport’ under the Plant Health Order 2005.
Another power allows officials to check the energy ratings on refrigerators under the Energy Information Household Refrigerators and Freezers Regulations 2004.
Officials can also use the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 to see if a garden hedge is too high.
Government departments have been given until next year to identify which powers should be repealed. Even then it may take months or years for them to be scrapped."
