Written question asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Wilcox (Conservative) on Wednesday, 13 July 2011.

Consumer Markets Authority

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, under their proposals A competition regime for growth (March 2011), the super-complaints such as that submitted by Which? on card payment surcharges in March will be investigated by the proposed Consumer Markets Authority.

Answer: The Government launched a consultation on Institutional Changes for the Provision of Consumer Information, Advice, Education, Advocacy and Enforcement on 21 June 2011 which included proposals for the ways that super-complaints would be handled if the proposed Competition and Markets Authority is established. Most super-complaints highlight alleged structural market failings where further analysis is necessary and, as a result, the consultation proposes that they should be handled by the proposed new Competition and Markets Authority. It may be appropriate also to have a process by which designated consumer bodies could simply request enforcement action against a pattern of alleged breaches of consumer law. The consultation asks for views on the suggestion that the proposed Trading Standards Policy Board would receive such super-complaints.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 10709; 729 c177WA
Session: 2010-12
Subjects: Complaints Competition Unfair practices Consumer organisations Competition and Markets Authority
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk