Economy and Fair Work Committee
The Consumer Scotland Act 2020 established Consumer Scotland as a statutory independent consumer body in June 2022.
The Regulations update the list of Scottish public authorities to be made subject to the Consumer Duty ("the Duty"). The Duty was created under the Consumer Scotland Act 2020 and requires certain public bodies to consider the impact of their strategic decisions on consumers and the desirability of reducing harm to consumers.
The Duty will come into force on 1 April 2024, followed by an implementation period of one year, ending on 31 March 2025.
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the instrument at its meeting on 23 January 2024 and made no recommendations.
In advance of his coming to give evidence, the Committee wrote to the Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance seeking clarification of the extent of support for the public duty and why some bodies, suggested in the consultation to be likely covered by the duty, no longer appeared in the draft regulations. The Minister's response noted there was broad overall support for the Duty and explained why some public authorities were excluded.
The Committee took evidence on the instrument from Tom Arthur, Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance at its meeting on 7 February 2024. The Scottish Government confirmed that after conversations with many of the public bodies?
people and organisations are now much more aware of what the duty means and does not mean for them and of their ability to use existing processes and assessments to demonstrate compliance with it, so they have a better understanding of why it applies to their organisation.1
Following the evidence session, the Minister moved motion S6M-11828?
That the Economy and Fair Work Committee recommends that the Consumer Scotland Act 2020 (Relevant Public Authorities) Regulations 2024[draft] be approved.
The motion was agreed to without division.
The Economy and Fair Work Committee recommends to the Parliament that the Consumer Scotland Act 2020 (Relevant Public Authorities) Regulations 2024[draft] be approved.