Are we witnessing the end of British lens manufacturing?

Rodenstock, Shamir (old Cambridge), Zeiss and now Signet - a roll call of large international optical supply companies who have recently ceased ophthalmic lens production and coating here in the UK.  Now before those remaining with UK lens production begin clapping their hands they perhaps need to consider whose is the correct decision.

Constant EU interference from those Brussels jobsworths, through their overzealous invention of new regulations and never ending cost escalations, is driving manufacturing out of Europe, all that of course before our own UK government’s hasty plan to dramatically hike UK minimum wage rates.

Before any righteous comments about optics only paying minimum wages, consider when using identical machinery with cheaper local taxes and energy prices, paying for a whole day’s work the equivalent of what is a UK hourly rate all from similar if not cheaper materials, it is quite obvious that Far East lens production costs will be substantially lower. None of the above is an issue if locals only buy locally but those switching to overseas sourcing encourage others to follow with the ultimate outcome of little remaining UK production. Just no one at any level of Western administration seems to have an answer to these serious national issues.