Outlets in UK bathrooms

My sister came for a visit last year from Austria and she was stunned that UK bathrooms don't allow for sockets and light switches have to be either activated by a pull string or be fitted outside the door. Yet in Austria and all of Europe socket outlets are allowed. With modern consumer units fitted with the latest rcds, why is the uk still lacking behind? It's like the two tap sinks, compared to the monoblock in all Europe, UK just wants to be different because they want to be see to be different. So what's the real reason for no sockets allowed in UK bathrooms, and if its do do with being 32a ring circuit, then what's stopping them fitting a 16a radial only to bathrooms?