Call for Welsh consumer affairs body

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Mark Williams MP says the Welsh Government must be given the power to set up their own body to deal with consumer issues.

In the next few months we will see what proposals the government puts in place to cover consumer issues in place of Consumer Focus, which will be abolished as part of the government's 'bonfire of the quangos', but there remain fears that in Wales the model proposed will not be able to provide a specific Welsh view on consumer issues.

The work Consumer Focus has done on Post Offices, digital inclusion, private parking and financial services has also been very important in raising the issues and proposing practical solutions to some of the concerns arising. They have shown in the last few years that not only can they produce insightful research, but also that they are capable of getting results.

Perhaps the most important work they have done, has been their investigation into E. coli and food safety. Consumer Focus Wales took this issue up in 2007 on behalf of bereaved families after the E.coli outbreak in South Wales in 2005, and have raised some serious concerns about food safety. Changes have been implemented as a result, such as the Welsh Government agreeing to introduce mandatory display of food hygiene ratings within food hygiene businesses, and encouraging the Food Standards Agency to clarify the law over the separation of raw and cooked food.

The real concern that Consumer Focus Wales have is the model being proposed by the government. While the new model in Scotland will be led from Scotland, and the new model in Northern Ireland will be led from Northern Ireland, in Wales we will be led from London. That would present concern in many areas, but given that the Welsh Assembly Government have competence for a number of the issues raised by Consumer Focus Wales, and there may be significant policy divergences, it is crucial for there to be Welsh input. Improvements have been made to the model proposed by the government, but they still fall short of the comprehensive Wales-led solution that is needed.

The Welsh Government must be given the power to set up their own body to deal with consumer issues. This would not require a fundamental change to the devolution settlement, simply giving equivalent powers as those already contained within the Public Bodies Bill for Welsh ministers to set up a new Welsh environmental body.

I have seen first hand the excellent work done by Consumer Focus Wales across a number of areas which has made a difference to the lives of my constituents. If a Wales-led model for consumer affairs is not put forward, I fear we will not see the full benefit of that work.

Mark Williams has been Lib Dem MP for Ceredgion, Wales since 2005.

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