23 Jan 2002
Scotland Office Minister George Foulkes today welcomed a new £10 million package of measures to crack down on rogue traders, to boost Trading Standards services and to give a better deal to consumers in the UK.
The new action plan to improve consumer protection, includes:
George Foulkes said "It is imperative that consumers are protected from rogue dealers peddling shoddy or unsafe goods and services. Consumers, whether buying goods & services on the high street or over the internet must be confident that appropriate measures are in place to prevent illegal trading and that if, unfortunately, they are ripped off, they have a quick and easy method of obtaining redress.
Trading Standards officers around Scotland already do a fantastic job, cracking down on traders who are ripping off consumers."
"Today a new National Performance Framework is being announced by the Department of Trade and Industry to help modernise trading standards services, and the forthcoming Enterprise Bill will enhance the legal powers available to trading standards officers, for example, by extending the use of Stop Now Orders which prevent rogue traders from continuing to prey on the unsuspecting consumer"
"This year's £10 million of funding from the Modernisation Fund, will help consumer protection bodies implement new initiatives such as the Scottish Motor Vehicle Testing Unit in Dundee, clamp down on rogue traders who rip off the public, and make a tangible and immediate difference to people's lives."
"I am proud that the Scottish Motor Vehicle Testing Unit, established by Dundee City Council last year, has been testing the safety of cars for sale, the standard of servicing provided by garages and the roadworthiness of cars available for hire. In its short existence the Unit has already proved to be very effective and has visited more than 230 garages throughout Scotland. This proactive approach to consumer protection is a shining example of what can be done to improve the quality of goods & services available to the public. The Government now plans to give Trading Standards departments additional resources to enable them to be even more effective in the future."
Notes to Editors
New UK wide initiatives supported by the funding include:
The New Performance Framework has been designed to help Trading Standards departments to be more effective and improve their services to consumers and business.
Already piloted by Trading Standards services in 19 regions in the UK, the framework will introduce core performance standards, while at the same time reflecting the specific needs of local communities.
Melanie Johnson addresses the Local Authority Coordinating body on food and Trading Standards (LACOTS) Year Ahead Symposium at 1.45pm. Thursday 24 January, at the Jurys Inn, Birmingham. For press accreditation contact Andrew Beckett, Trading Standards Institute, Tel: 07900 433 735.
£10 million will be distributed as part of the Modernisation Fund, launched last year to boost the powers of consumer watchdogs and help them crack down on rogue traders and put a stop to scams. Projects have been set up nationwide, improving advice and information to consumers and business, strengthening consumer safety, and giving valuable support to Trading Standards departments.
More information about the Modernisation Fund is available from the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk
The National Performance Framework for Trading Standards, which has been developed with the Trading Standards Institute, LACOTS, the Office of Fair Trading, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory and 19 pilot authorities, is being launched at the symposium and will be implemented in 2002/03.
Details of the DTI scholarships, and information about applying for funds will be available through the LACOTS website, www.lacots.com or Tel: 020 7840 7200.
There are 1,583 trading standards officers across the country. Their duties include advice to consumers and business, inspections, enforcement, investigations, provision of information, sampling, testing and licensing duties.
FURTHER DETAILS ON THE SCOTTISH CASE STUDY WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE MODERNISATION FUND :
The Unit was developed by Dundee City Council, and began working across 12 Scottish Local Authority areas in February 2001. The unit uses a team of undercover investigators which visits garages around the country, testing the safety of cars on sale, the standard of car servicing and the roadworthiness of vehicles which are available for hire.
Investigators have visited more than 230 garages across Scotland, checking over 650 vehicles. On average, up to 40% of cars for sale have been found to be unroadworthy. The standard of MOT testing and car servicing has also been found wanting - of the 125 checks undertaken, more than 40 have been proved to be unreliable, with some garages not carrying out repairs properly, or charging for work which is unnecessary.