Consumer Focus Scotland welcomes the Scottish Government’s intention to achieve better, rather than less, regulation and to set out a clear vision of what it is trying to achieve. However, while some of the individual proposals detailed in the consultation paper are of merit, we are disappointed at the limitation in this vision “as a means of supporting business and economic growth.” To suggest that the objective of better regulation is only to deliver sustainable economic growth and provide a favourable business environment in which companies can grow and flourish, ignores the fact that better regulation is as much an issue for consumers as it is for business and that there are mutual benefits to both. The Scottish Government has a clear opportunity now to embed the consumer interest in its better regulation agenda and to demonstrably recognise the synergies between business and consumers in setting out the purpose of the Bill and in any new duties being imposed on regulators.
Publications
Response to: Better Regulation: Consultation on Proposals for a Better Regulation Bill
Published: 26 October 2012