Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Trading Standards: Staffing and Resources

Monday 20 February 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • John Penrose questioned the assessment of the impact of staffing and resource variations on local trading standards teams.
  • Local authorities are responsible for setting their own resourcing priorities based on local needs.
  • The Minister offered to meet John Penrose to discuss concerns about local trading standards teams.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Penrose Con
Standards & Ethics Local Government
Context

The question arises from concerns about the impact of variations in staffing and resources on local trading standards teams.

Question

What assessment has been made of the impact of variations in staffing and resources on the effectiveness of local trading standards teams?

Answer from Lee Rowley

As my hon. Friend will know, local authorities are responsible for determining resourcing priorities in accordance with the needs of their local electorates, and the members of those electorates will differ according to the areas where they live. That said, the local government finance settlement for 2023-24 makes available up to £60 billion for local government in England in response to the requests of the sector, and the majority of that funding is ringfenced in recognition of the fact that local authorities are best placed to understand the priorities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The assessment requested about variations in staffing and resources was not provided specifically.

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Q2 John Penrose Con
Economy Business Compliance
Context

There is concern that some local trading standards teams are no longer capable of protecting citizens from scams and fraud, and delivering fair competition. A report titled 'Power to the people' has been commissioned by the government.

Question

There is a widespread concern that some local trading standards teams are no longer capable of protecting local citizens from scams, fraud and rip-offs, or of delivering the strong and fair competition locally which will ultimately be the only route for levelling up jobs, exports and growth in left-behind communities. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the proposals for minimum standards in my Government-commissioned report “Power to the people”, so that we can level up opportunities in communities throughout the country?

Answer from Lee Rowley

I have read that report, and I should be happy to meet my hon. Friend to talk more about this important issue, in which I know he has a long-standing interest.

Answered
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