Response to the Working Group on consumer and competition policy

Background

The Working Group on Consumer and Competition Policy for Scotland was established in June 2015 to consider optimal arrangements for the consumer protection and competition landscapes and to advise the Scottish Government on how best to deliver our vision for consumers.

Rick Hill, MBE - until recently Chair of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland and currently on the board of the Ofcom Consumer Communications Panel and the Independent Press Standards Organisation - generously agreed to chair the Group. It was made up of senior representation from the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, Which?, Citizens Advice Scotland, Trading Standards Scotland, Ombudsman Services, Federation of Small Businesses and the Accounts Commission, as well as sector specific consultants.

The Working Group was supported by five Expert Panels whose work on each of the pillars and competition underpinned many of the final recommendations.

The Working Group's final report was published on the Scottish Government's website in October 2015: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/ConsumerCompetition/FinalReport.