Section menu

Consumer Bodies

Citizens Advice

BERR is responsible for promoting and sponsoring the work of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) service through its funding of Citizens Advice in England and Wales and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) in Scotland. Citizens Advice Northern Ireland is an independent organisation.

Citizens Advice, and CAS, set standards for advice giving, provide central training, offer merger support services, run an information system and co-ordinate policy work for all Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales, and in Scotland, respectively.

You can find the location and contact details of you local Citizens Advice Bureau via a telephone book or vdirectory or from the Citizens Advice web site.

In July 2006 the Department carried out a zero-based review of Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland. This looked at whether the current way in which CitA and CAS operate will meet the needs of the future, including both the needs of the citizens advice service and their funders. It also explored the scope for improved effectiveness and efficiency, and whether the organisations provide good value for money. The study was carried out by Dr Bob Dobbie. His Report can be downloaded on the right.

BERR also commissioned a study of how advice on consumer and social issues is provided in other countries - France, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden - to see how they compared to the way that advice is provided in the UK. The study was carried out by Lisa Webley, Westminster University and their report is listed on the right.

Hearing Aid Council

The Hearing Aid Council (HAC) is one of the Department’s non-departmental public bodies. HAC is mainly funded by subscriptions from registered dispensers and their employers. HAC is primarily concerned with the regulation of people involved in the dispensing of hearing aids in the private sector by:

• maintaining a register of qualified dispensers;
• encouraging high standards in professional practice though its examination and qualification system and code of practice;
• taking up complaints on behalf of consumers.

Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney has announced the re-appointment of Christopher Hughes as Chair of the Hearing Aid Council (HAC).

Mr Hughes has been chair since September 2003 and his re-appointment will run from 1 September 2006 till 31 August 2009. The post of HAC Chair requires a commitment of up to 50 days a year and carries an attendance fee of £189.50 per day.

For further information on the Hearing Aid Council visit the HAC web site.

National Consumer Council

BERR is responsible for the funding of, and appointments to the National Consumer Council (NCC), the Scottish Consumer Council (SCC) and the Welsh Consumer Council (WCC). NCC has close ties with the independent General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.

The NCC family vision is to make markets and public services work better for all consumers (now and in the future) with a special focus on the needs of disadvantaged consumers.

Visit the NCC web sites for up-to-date news about its publications, policies and campaigns.