Policy Brief
Consumer Rights Bill
Parliamentary update
Services which may be impacted by this Bill
 Public Health and Protection
 Legal, Democratic Services and Procurement
The Consumer Rights Bill aims to give consumers clearer rights in law and make sure that
consumer rights keep pace with technological advances. It provides new protections for
consumers alongside measures to reduce regulation for business, all with the aim of
making markets work better.
Intended benefits
 Give consumers greater confidence when buying products, knowing their rights if things
go wrong, switching suppliers or making purchases by telephone or internet.
 Update the law to take account of purchases of digital content.
 Introduce new protections for consumers and businesses.
 Reduce burdens for businesses as there would be fewer and less costly disputes with
their customers because the rights are clearer.
Main elements
 Consolidation of legislation in one place bringing together eight pieces of legislation on
consumer rights and covering goods, services, digital content and unfair contract terms.
 Provide clarity in areas where the law has not kept up with technological advances. For
example, setting out clearer consumer rights for the quality of digital content like ebooks and software.
 Easier access to compensation where there have been breaches of consumer or
competition law. For example, new powers for enforcers (such as Trading Standards) to
seek a court to require compensation to be paid to consumers where consumer law is
breached.
 Measures which would deregulate and reduce costs to business. For example requiring
that businesses would, in the majority of cases, receive notice of an inspection from
Trading Standards.
 Measures which would enhance protection for consumers. For example making it easier
for consumer to challenge where they have been misled into a contract.
 More powers for Trading Standards and other enforcement authorities to require
traders, through the courts, to compensate consumers where they have breached
consumer law.
House of Commons
First reading
1st reading: House of Commons 23 January, 2014
Bill introduced.
The Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee
undertook pre-legislative scrutiny of the legislation last
year, during which the LGA raised concerns over the Bill's
intended restrictions on the ability of trading standards
officers to undertake unannounced inspections, where
they have reasonable grounds to do so. As a result of
campaigning by the LGA, the Government has listened to
these concerns and amended the provisions in the Bill to
address the local government sector's concerns.
Second reading
Ahead of the second reading the LGA briefed MPs.
2nd reading: House of Commons 28 January, 2014
The debate was opened by Secretary of State for
Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable. The Bill
passed without a division and will now be considered by a
Public Bill Committee.
During the debate, Secretary of State, Vince Cable MP
emphasised that "local trading standards officers are
crucial in implementing much of this legislation".
Meanwhile the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group
on Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards Stephen
Lloyd MP (Liberal Democrat, Eastbourne) asked the
Secretary of State to note pressure on trading standards
budgets. The LGA has campaigned to ensure the
investigatory work of trading standards officers is not
impacted by this Bill
Committee stage
(opportunity to submit
comments)
Report stage
Third reading
House of Lords
First reading
Second reading
Committee stage
Report stage
Third reading
Consideration of
amendments
11 February
Royal Assent
Prepared by:
Strategy, Localism and Communications Service
Chief Executives Department