New proposals to
simplify the confusing and overlapping provision of consumer
protection are needed to better protect consumers, Consumer
Minister Edward Davey announced today.
Under proposals set out in a new consultation ‘Empowering and
Protecting Consumers’, ministers want to see a new
simplified ‘consumer landscape’ with public funding concentrated
on two bodies that consumers trust and already turn to for advice
– Trading Standards and the Citizens Advice service.
Consumer Minister Edward Davey said:
“This government believes in giving more power to people. Our
consumer policy is all about empowering consumers to make the
right decisions for themselves when they buy goods and services.
“But we also need to ensure we have the right system of help,
advice and protection when consumers need support. For too long
people have been faced with a confusing landscape of different,
public, private and voluntary consumer bodies, with overlapping
roles and responsibilities. It is not always clear where to turn
for trusted advice and information which consumers need to make
good choices or a champion to support them when they have been
ripped off.
“The proposals which I have published today seek to put an end to
such confusion and make sure consumers are empowered and have
champions. The Citizens Advice service has for a long time offered
trusted advice, information and advocacy. So it’s right that it
sits at the heart of our plans.
“Likewise, Trading Standards are trusted by the public to do a
good job in enforcing consumer law and standing up for consumers.
But there are barriers which get in the way of effective responses
to rogues who operate across authority boundaries. Our proposed
reforms will strengthen their hand in tackling these threats to
consumers.”
Strengthening consumer power helps drive competition, making
businesses more efficient and innovative. Reforming the consumer
landscape was a key part of the Government’s Plan for Growth,
published at the time of the Budget, and its focus on creating the
right conditions to deliver strong, sustainable balanced economic growth.
The consultation paper sets out proposals for the Citizens Advice
service – the familiar bureaux on the high street and their
supporting national organisations - to become the single service
that consumers can turn to for information and advice. It will
also act as their champion across a range of sectors. In turn,
this will help empower them to make more informed decisions about
the goods and services they buy.
It also sets out plans to strengthen the leadership and
coordination of Local Authority Trading Standards Services in
tackling difficult cases that cross local authority boundaries.
The ‘Empowering and Protecting Consumers’ consultation
will run for 14 weeks until the end of September and government is
keen that consumers, the voluntary and private sectors share their
views on the proposed reforms.
Notes to editors:
The ‘Empowering and Protecting Consumers’ consultation can be
viewed at www.bis.gov.ukConsumer policy is not devolved to
Scotland or Wales therefore the consultation applies in both those
countries. However consumer policy is devolved in Northern Ireland
and so this consultation does not apply there.The Plan for Growth
was published along side the Budget in March 2011. It set out a
radical plan of reform to help create the right conditions for
business to start up, invest, grow and create jobs, and can be
found here: http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_growth.pdfThe
Growth Review is a fundamental assessment of what every part of
Government is doing to provide the conditions for private sector
growth, removing barriers to private sector success wherever it
can. This is rolling programme over the course of the whole
parliament. More information on the Growth Review can be found at
www.bis.gov.uk/growthBIS's online newsroom contains the
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Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Olivia Campbell
Phone: 020 7215 5363
olivia.campbell@bis.gsi.gov.uk