In my own remarks I will be focussing on the issues of codes of practice and rogue traders which you mentioned. It is my intention to speak for about 20 minutes. That should leave time for questions and discussion about any of the points I have covered. I stand ready to safeguard the interests of UK consumers but as many of you know paper shields are of little value against the sticks and stones of modern rogue traders. After many years of campaigning, I was delighted to see the clear message in the White Paper that we are winning the battle to have some new, modern measures, but there is still much to do.
New law takes a lot of time to put on the statute book.
But importantly of course the Government s initiative starts from a position of strong belief in the market economy, and of general confidence in its workings. However, the Government also recognises that there are many imperfections in the current UK market place that need to be addressed. The White Paper essentially discusses way of addressing those imperfections. The provision of readily available consumer information is the vital foundation. Indeed, the OFT s conceptual framework for consumer detriment attributes all consumer detriment to some form of shortfall in consumer information in its widest sense.