Consumers: Protection
Question
Sarah Hall
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to tackle rogue traders and protect consumers.
Answer
Kate DeardenConsumer legislation sets out protections for consumers.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 strengthens consumer law enforcement by giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new administrative powers, and the CMA and courts the ability to impose significant monetary penalties of up to 10% of turnover.
DBT provides additional funding through the National Trading Standards Board and Trading Standards Scotland to prioritise and coordinate national and regional consumer enforcement in England, Wales and Scotland respectively.
DBT also funds Citizens Advice to provide the consumer service which supports consumers to assert their rights. Citizens Advice also run an annual Scams Awareness campaign.