Consumer Focus Wales Workplan
November 2011 – March 2013
The Public Bodies Bill, which grants the UK Government power to abolish Consumer Focus, has now received Royal Assent. Whilst our parent department, BIS, continues to consider what changes it wishes to make to the consumer landscape and how consumer advocacy might be best delivered, we face an uncertain period.
It is fair to say that March 2013, the date ear-marked for our abolition, will mark the end of an era. However, in the meantime there is an ever-pressing need for our work to continue, particularly where we are working on behalf of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society.
As we are yet to receive confirmation of what those changes will mean for us as an organisation, and individually for our staff; and whilst we wait for news on our budget, we have decided that for our workplan in our final period we will simply identify some key goals that we want to achieve.
We believe that these goals, which have been drawn from our major consultation exercise with consumers in all corners of Wales – will provide a fitting legacy for all the hard work undertaken by Consumer Focus Wales.
If you have any comments on any of these goals please don’t hesitate to contact us:
Call us
029 2078 7100
029 2078 7101 (fax)
Write to us
Portcullis House
21 Cowbridge Road East
Cardiff
CF11 9AD
Email us
contactwales@consumerfocus.org.uk
Our Goals
Energy
Energy has been a dominant issue in the lives of consumers and businesses in Wales in the last 12 months. Rising prices, soaring profits, unfair practices and setbacks in the battle to eliminate fuel poverty have put energy issues centre stage.
Our goals will be to:
- Drive forward the Fuel Poverty Coalition’s ‘Hit Fuel Poverty for 6’ calls to action and the wider Fuel Poverty Charter
- Ensure that the needs of off gas consumers are better addressed in government’s policies
- Offer practical help and advice to consumers and advice agencies on how energy bills can be reduced, particularly for the most vulnerable
Post
The Postal service is facing a period of unprecedented change and uncertainty. It is vital that the voice of consumers is heard loud and clear, if it is to help shape the future of both the Royal Mail, and the Post Office Network.
Our goals will be to:
- Ensure Welsh consumers have a voice in the changes affecting the future of the post office network
- Report on the opportunity for local government to offer services through the post office network in Wales
- Be a voice for Welsh consumers in discussions about changes to the Royal Mail Universal Service Obligation – The guarantee that post is delivered to every household in the UK, 6 days a week, at an affordable price.
Rights and Regulation
Some of Consumer Focus Wales’ most high profile and effective work has been done outside of the regulated markets of post and energy. Our ability to bring together expertise from different spheres has enabled us to make a real difference.
Park homes
Our goals will be to:
- Provide, for the first time in Wales, strong and compelling evidence of the issues facing people living in park homes in Wales.
- Produce a set of workable and effective solutions to these problems
- Influence the Welsh Government’s position on Park Homes in the proposed Housing Bill
- Deliver stronger protections and rights for park home residents
- Ensure that action can, and is, taken by all agencies with a role to play, including local authorities, the police etc.
Private rented sector
Our goals will be to:
- Test existing potential solutions to problems in the private rented sector with consumers, and identify new ones
- Provide the Welsh Government with a robust evidence base that will enable them provide greater protection for private rented sector tenants as part of the Housing Bill
- Ensure that tenants views are taken into account in the Welsh Government’s proposals for private rented sector tenants, within the Housing Bill
Food safety
Our goals will be to:
- Ensure that the Welsh Government’s Food Hygiene Information Bill meets the needs of consumers, including disclosure of food hygiene inspection reports and fixed penalties for non-display; and to empower consumers to respond directly to the consultation
- Report on delivery against Professor Pennington’s recommendations to combat further outbreaks of Ecoli 0157
Financial Inclusion
Our goals will be to:
- Improve the lives of care leavers by working with Ken Skates AM on his private members bill, and with the Welsh Government on their forthcoming legislation in this area, to understand and address the financial exclusion issues affecting this particularly vulnerable group of people
- Use our research knowledge to provide an informed voice on financial inclusion issues affecting Welsh consumers
The future
We expect to hear what decision the UK Government has taken regarding our fate early in 2012 and with it, more information about the transfer of our work to other parties. Once we know more, we will develop plans that enable our legacy to be available for those who take on the work so that the job of championing the cause of consumers – particularly vulnerable consumers – continues.
