27 July 2008
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)
 
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Consumer Policy

The Government wants Britain’s consumer regime to be as good as any in the world – we have set ourselves a target of reaching the level of the best by 2008.

More than this, we want a consumer regime that is fit for purpose for the 21st Century. A regime that will empower and protect consumers, support open, competitive and innovative markets, that is as fair to business as it is to consumers and that has the minimum regulation necessary to achieve these goals.

The Government is committed to ensuring consumers get a fair deal, value for money, safe and high quality products, and greater choice. This is not only good for consumers, it is also good for British business.

Business needs demanding, confident consumers who encourage higher standards and innovation. It needs effective enforcement of consumer standards, to drive out the rogues who compete unfairly.

The Government has already taken measures to protect consumers and ensure they get a good deal. Now it is taking further action to strengthen safeguards for consumers and ensure greater choice and better prices through effective competition.

The Government also wants to see a stronger consumer voice, both here and in Europe, helping to shape policy.

Consumer Strategy

The Consumer Strategy, ‘A Fair Deal For All – Extending Competitive Markets: Empowered Consumer, Successful Business’, provides details of the Government’s commitments to meeting our target of reaching the level of the best. They include:

• Promoting open and competitive markets;
• Empowering consumers;
• Simplifying the law for the benefit of consumers and business;
• Making it easier to resolve problems; and
• Ensuring a fair and safe trading environment.

Comparative Study

A comparative study of consumer policy regimes identifying how the UK’s consumer policy regime compared with those of our OECD partner countries was carried out in 2003. It is available for download on the right. The two Report documents contain a summary and individual country comparisons respectively, while the Study document focuses on the legal and institution frameworks.

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