Step Turn - the regulation system in the UK is a bit different to most other areas in the world. In the UK permit aircraft are tested and cleared as safe by an appropriately competent organization (LAA BMAA etc). The UK CAA accepted a report comparing 20 years of accidents in the UK, permit v CofA. The Permit came out marginally on top on safety so we can say that under UK rules permit are just as safe as C of A, it would be misleading to take this as true for the US etc.
The UK CAA are now in advanced talks on clearing some permit aircraft for IFR use and on extending the use of permit aircraft in the training environment.
There has been a big increase in permit aircraft in the UK, many new factory built micros etc, the numbers mentioned above did not include permit aircraft and my point was that this was extremely misleading and paints a much blacker picture than reality.
Rod1