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Responding to the recent announcement from the Consumer Minister Edward Davey, OFT Chairman Philip Collins said:

'An effective consumer regime is crucial to ensuring consumers are protected and to driving economic productivity and growth. This consultation is timely, and covers important issues which need serious debate.

'Evolving business models, the growth of internet shopping and a plethora of national and global suppliers all need to be matched by a strong, modern consumer protection regime. Consumers increasingly face problems that require joined-up public enforcement of consumer law at local, national and international levels.

'We support the Government's objectives of reducing complexity, strengthening consumer enforcement and delivering a more cost-effective service. It is also important that interventions continue to be targeted at the most harmful conduct, and that the regime has effective access to a full range of different regulatory tools to ensure that the right one can be picked for each case.'

NOTES

1. OFT Chairman Philip Collins gave a speech this morning to the Trading Standards Institute Annual Conference in which he discussed the OFT's views on the future organisation of consumer protection. This speech will be available shortly at www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/speeches.