Remit of this group
Liberal Democrats are committed to the pursuit of open, liberal, competitive markets within the UK and global economies which lead to greater choice, diversity, wider opportunities to become stakeholders in the economy and greater general prosperity; in turn this will lead to a greater basis for wealth creation and distribution. The position of the consumer within those markets is of critical importance in maintaining fair and free competition and in maintaining the principle of fairness at the heart British society. As consumers and citizens, people play an important role in developing our economy and developing our society through the choices they make. We therefore seek to promote and extend the rights and powers of citizens as informed consumers, both in the market place and in public services.
Access to information and redress are important in a well functioning market to help produce productive competition and improve services. Across public services and private offerings, people experience daily challenges to access services. In many ways our society is becoming a ‘faceless Britain’. Increasingly companies, local authorities and government departments no longer operate on a face-to-face level for service, but instead communicate and serve people through call centres, help lines and using new media which, managed incorrectly, can lead to frustrations.
Liberal Democrats believe that consumers should be protected and empowered by national policy to make the right choices for themselves, society and the world in which we live. It is of particular importance to Liberal Democrats that we address the impact humans have on the environment, and we therefore also believe that national policy should promote long term changes in behaviour to protect the environment.
The Federal Policy Committee charges the Consumers Policy Working Group to draw together existing Party policy relating to consumers, to identify and develop policy where required, and ensure that Liberal Democrat policy assists and protects consumers across the board within the context of open, liberal world markets. Specifically, the group will consider the issues of redress, accessibility, responsiveness and availability of information in relation to public services and private companies. This group is not charged with studying the issues surrounding marketisation of public services. The group will report to Autumn 2009 Party conference in the form of a policy paper of no more than 8,000 words.
The group will take evidence and consult widely both inside and outside the party, in particular at a Consultative Session to be held at the Spring 2009 Party Conference. The group will have to produce a draft policy paper for FPC consideration in April 2009. A short consultation paper will be produced early in the group’s work to use in web-based consultation.
Specific issues the group will need to consider include:
The legislative regime:
- Competition and the EU legislative framework
- Regulatory regimes
- Consumer protection, generally and specifically for financial products
- Consumer rights
Information, advice and support for consumers:
- Trading Standards and the Office of Fair Trading
- Consumer advice and information – including labelling, recognised certification for industry
- standards and information provided at the point of sale
- Environmental information, e.g. eco-labelling
Protecting consumers:
- Online protection
- ID theft/data protection
Treatment of public service consumers:
- Responsiveness of public services to consumers
- Methods of redress for consumers of public services
- Accessibility of public services to consumers
- Availability of information to public service consumers
