DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2007/104)
issued by The Government News Network on 14 November 2007
John Hutton today
announced a series of measures to help consumers make informed
choices and understand the potential dangers or risks of products
and service they purchase.
"Too Much Information Can Harm", a Department for
Business (BERR) and the National Consumer Council (NCC) report
highlights how much of the vital information provided with
products and services is never read because it is too long or too complicated.
Examples included a toaster manual with more than 50 different
safety warnings, and a store card agreement form that took more
than an hour to read.
The measures include:
* Reviewing the information provided on consumer credit
agreements with a view to making it useful, clear and simple for consumers.
* Testing information on consumers before applying it too goods
and services and ensuring it is regularly reviewed
* Putting greater emphasis on the desired outcome of the
information but giving greater freedom to businesses on the way it
is provided
* Introducing a small print award to recognise best practice
Business Secretary John Hutton, said:
"We are all familiar with times when the information
provided with a product or a contract is so lengthy or confusing
we simply disregard it.
"This information is expensive to provide, costing business
over £1.5 bn a year and simply confuses consumers. It is
unacceptable that consumers are taking decisions in the dark
unaware of the potential dangers or consequences.
"We are acting to give the power back to consumers to make
informed choices by rationalising information and making sure it
is presented as simply as possible." Ed Mayo, NCC Chief
Executive, said: "Consumers would welcome a common sense
approach. Too much of what's provided is turgid and
confusing. 'Typical time wasters include over 50 safety
warnings for a toaster, 17 recycling symbols which few people
recognise, and the hour it takes to read a credit agreement."
Notes to editors:
1. The NCC and the Better Regulation Executive (BRE), part of
BERR, published an interim report to Government in July 2007 as a
consultative discussion document. The recommendations in the
final report are based on the interim report and responses.
2. The NCC and BRE final report and Government response can be
found at http://bre.berr.gov.uk/regulation