Analysis of Consumer Organisations in Europe
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Our 2015 Annual Review
Sheffield Citizens Advice Annual Review 2014/15 Tackling poverty and campaigning for social justice Our year Welcome to the Sheffield Citizens Advice Annual Review for 2014/15. This has been our first full year of operation, during which we have made considerable progress towards realising the Our advice benefits of bringing Sheffield’s advice services together in services one organisation. helped We helped over 20,000 people in 2014/15. 19,833 We have introduced new services, including providing advice at foodbanks, and the new Pension Wise service which we provide people across South Yorkshire. with We have contributed to campaigns and social policy: > Our report about benefits sanctions led to a parliamentary debate 62,484 as part of the growing campaign for the sanctions regime to be issues changed; > Our general election briefing set out some important issues for candidates and the new Government; > Our investigation into personal independence payment highlighted unfair rules affecting terminally ill people, for which a change to the law is being sought. Our mental We have also helped to refresh Sheffield’s strategy for tackling health poverty and are contributing to the Fair City campaign. We are joining advocacy forces with Citizens Advice in England’s other major cities, to make the case for advice services and to work together on campaigns. service helped We have a great workforce, many of whom we have featured on the cover of this report. 827 We have made important changes to our paid workforce, so that we now have a single unified management and staff structure, with people common pay, terms and conditions. -
Climate Change Accountability
CLIMATE CHANGE ACCOUNTABILITY YOUNG FABIANS ENVIRONMENT NETWORK COP26 REPORT Revealing How to Improve Transparency, Assign Responsibility & Implement Science-Backed Solutions to Solve the Climate Crisis Foreword by Matthew Pennycook MP Edited by Jack Parker, Cecilia Jastrzembska & Laura Cunliffe-Hall © 2020 Young Fabians Climate Change Accountability First published September 2020. Launched at Labour Connected 2020. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior writ- ten permission of the publisher or editor, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law, where the source of information is acknowledged as this publication. Please send a copy of the document in which this publication is used or quoted to the publisher and editor. For permission requests, write to the publisher or editor, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator”. Like all publications of the Fabian Society, this report represents not the collective views of the Society, nor nec- essarily the views of the editors nor the writers of the forewords, but only the views of the individual writers. The responsibility of the Society is limited to approving its publications as worthy of consideration within the Labour movement. Typeset and Cover Design: Robin Wilde: https://robinwilde.me. The editors would like to thank Labour Party Graphic Designers for putting them in touch with Robin. The moral rights of the author have been asserted. British Library Cataloguing in Publication data. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Li- brary. -
Protecting Europe Against Large-Scale Cyber-Attacks
HOUSE OF LORDS European Union Committee 5th Report of Session 2009–10 Protecting Europe against large-scale cyber-attacks Report with Evidence Ordered to be printed 9 March 2010 and published 18 March 2010 Published by the Authority of the House of Lords London : The Stationery Office Limited £price HL Paper 68 The European Union Committee The European Union Committee of the House of Lords considers EU documents and other matters relating to the EU in advance of decisions being taken on them in Brussels. It does this in order to influence the Government’s position in negotiations, and to hold them to account for their actions at EU level. The Government are required to deposit EU documents in Parliament, and to produce within two weeks an Explanatory Memorandum setting out the implications for the UK. The Committee examines these documents, and ‘holds under scrutiny’ any about which it has concerns, entering into correspondence with the relevant Minister until satisfied. Letters must be answered within two weeks. Under the ‘scrutiny reserve resolution’, the Government may not agree in the EU Council of Ministers to any proposal still held under scrutiny; reasons must be given for any breach. The Committee also conducts inquiries and makes reports. The Government are required to respond in writing to a report’s recommendations within two months of publication. If the report is for debate, then there is a debate in the House of Lords, which a Minister attends and responds to. The Committee has seven Sub-Committees which are: Economic and -
UNITED KINGDOM 1. Consumer Policy Institutions
UNITED KINGDOM 1. Consumer policy institutions ................................................... 2 1.1. MINISTRY RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSUMER POLICY ......................................................................... 2 1.2. PUBLIC AGENCIES......................................................................................................................... 3 1.3. NATIONAL CONSUMER ORGANISATIONS....................................................................................... 8 1.4. NATIONAL COUNCILS/ASSEMBLIES OF CONSUMER ORGANISATIONS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS 10 1.5. CONSUMER MEDIA ..................................................................................................................... 12 1.6. REDRESS BODIES: COURTS AND ADRS ....................................................................................... 12 1.7. EUROPEAN CONSUMER CENTRE.................................................................................................. 13 1.8. SELF OR CO-REGULATION........................................................................................................... 14 2. Consumer policies................................................................... 20 2.1. CONSUMER PROTECTION LEGISLATION ...................................................................................... 20 2.2. CONSUMER ORGANISATIONS ..................................................................................................... 25 2.3. ENFORCEMENT/REDRESS .......................................................................................................... -
Consumer Organizations and Promotion of Sustainable Energy Consumption: Comparative Product Quality Testing and Its Impact
Panel III, 04 – Wahnschafft/Huh Consumer Organizations and Promotion of Sustainable Energy Consumption: Comparative Product Quality Testing and its Impact Ralph WAHNSCHAFFT Energy Resources Section, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UN-ESCAP), Bangkok, Thailand Kwisun HUH Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Hanguk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, Republic of Korea 1 - SYNOPSIS This paper reports selected preliminary results of an ongoing survey on consumer organizations. It analyzes comparative product quality testing and its potential impact on promotion of energy efficiency. 2 - ABSTRACT The paper provides an overview on consumer organizations in OECD and high income developing countries, in particular with regard to their consumer information activities. It focuses on a review of comparative product testing of selected electrical home appliances and on test reports in consumer interest magazines. The paper analyzes the relative weights allocated to the different product quality criteria, including energy efficiency. Based on the above the paper reflects on the role that consumer organizations can play in the promotion of “green consumerism” and sustainable energy consumption, in particular with regard to the residential sector. 3 - INTRODUCTION 3.1. Background and objectives Advancing commercialization of societies has brought with it the formation of a growing number of local and national consumer interest groups. Today, Consumers International, the largest federation of consumer organizations and agencies worldwide, counts 243 member organizations in over 110 countries (1). Individual organizations greatly differ in their membership and organization, their sources of financing and government sponsorship, their work methods, activities and relative political influence. However, enhancement of consumer protection and better consumer information are overall common objectives that unite the “consumer movement”. -
Empowering and Protecting Consumers Consultation On
Empowering and protecting consumers Consultation on institutional changes for provision of consumer information, advice, education, advocacy and enforcement Response from Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland September 2011 Myddelton House | 115-123 Pentonville Road | London | N1 9LZ | Tel: 020 7833 2181 | Fax: 020 7833 4371 | www.citizensadvice.org.uk: 7833 2181 2 1. Introduction 1.1 Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland welcome the Government’s consultation on reform of the consumer landscape. 1.2 We wish to ensure that the outcome provides consumers with access to the best possible information and high quality individual advice about their rights; that consumers have powerful advocates representing their views to the Government, industry and regulators; and that there are strong enforcement and consumer protection agencies ensuring fair and effective markets, basing this work wherever possible on evidence that our organisations obtain from providing services to consumers. 1.3 The Government has proposed some significant reforms to the consumer landscape so that in future the organisations which have the brief to look after and advocate for the consumer interest are those which are best known and trusted by consumers, are evidence based and have their feet firmly on the ground. 1.4 We agree that consumer advocates should have strong support from consumers, and citizens, if they are to have the right to speak on their behalf to influence businesses, regulators and governments. 1.5 To earn this support and trust, consumer advocates need to be totally rooted in and in touch with the consumer community; passionate about getting the best deal for consumers, whoever they are and whatever the issue, and competent and creative in arguing for and securing solutions. -
Report for OFT on Markets with Bidding Processes
Markets with bidding processes Economic discussion paper May 2007 Report prepared for the OFT by DotEcon Ltd OFT923 Markets Characterised by Bidding Processes © Crown copyright (2007) This publication (excluding the OFT logo) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as crown copyright and the title of the publication specified. Report prepared for the OFT by DotEcon Ltd 2 FOREWORD This report was commissioned by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) from DotEcon Ltd. They were asked to prepare a report setting out the implications for the analysis of competition when a market is characterized by bidding process and provide a guide to the qualitative and quantitative analysis of such markets . Any views expressed in this report are those of DotEcon Ltd and do not necessarily reflect the views of the OFT nor the legal position under existing competition law which the OFT applies in exercise of its competition law enforcement functions. This report is part of the OFT's Economic Discussion Paper series, and is intended to inform current discussion within the competition policy community in the UK about cooperation between purchasers. If you would like to comment on the paper, please write to me, Amelia Fletcher, at the address below. The OFT welcomes suggestions for future research topics on all aspects of UK competition and consumer policy. Dr Amelia Fletcher Chief Economist Office of Fair Trading Fleetbank House 2-6 -
Our Aims and Principles the Principles of CAB Advice How CAB Advisers Can Help
Our aims and principles The Citizens Advice service aims: • To provide the advice people need for the problems they face. • To improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives. The service provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. It values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. The principles of CAB advice Independent – we will always act in the interests of our clients, without influence from any outside bodies. Impartial – we don’t judge our clients or make assumptions about them. Our service is open to everyone, and we treat everyone equally. Confidential – we won’t pass on anything a client tells us – or even the fact that they’ve visited us – without their permission. Free – no-one has to pay for any part of the service we provide. Top five CAB client problems in 2009/10 (England and Wales) • Debt (2,374,000) • Benefits and tax credits (2,074,000) • Employment (586,000) • Housing (468,000) • Relationships and family (333,000) How CAB advisers can help There are a number of different ways that CAB advisers can help people to resolve a problem. Advisers don’t tell clients what to do, but explain their options and the possible outcomes of different courses of action. Clients are encouraged to make their own decisions and act on their own behalf. We enable clients to manage their own problems by focusing on their needs as individuals. CAB advisers, most of whom are trained volunteers can: • interview clients face-to-face and by phone -
Scottish Expert Panel for the Collaborative Economy Participation: Consumers, Providers, Business & Digital Skills
Scottish Expert Panel for the Collaborative Economy briefing - Citizens Advice Scotland Scottish Expert Panel for the Collaborative Economy Participation: Consumers, Providers, Business & Digital Skills Written briefing from Citizens Advice Scotland Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS), our 61 member Citizen Advice Bureaux (CAB), the Citizen Advice consumer helpline, and the Extra Help Unit, form Scotland’s largest independent advice network. Advice provided by our service is free, independent, confidential, impartial and available to everyone. Our self- help website Advice for Scotland provides information on rights and helps people solve their problems. In 2015/16 the Citizens Advice network in Scotland helped over 310,000 clients in Scotland alone and dealt with over one million advice issues. With support from the network clients had financial gains of over £120 million and our Scottish self-help website Advice for Scotland received over 4 million unique page views. Introduction CAS welcomes the opportunity to provide evidence to the Scottish Expert Panel for the Collaborative Economy. The benefits to consumers and to the economy of the collaborative economy are potentially significant, although it is important that protections are in place to ensure that consumers, providers and workers do not suffer from any poor practice or policies. In this initial briefing, we provide high level evidence on the consumer experience of aspects of the collaborative economy as collated by citizens advice bureaux and the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline. Due to the nature of advice provision, evidence from the CAB network predominantly focuses on problems that consumers experience in any sector. This briefing therefore focuses on consumer protection and the types of problems that people can experience in the collaborative economy – whether they are consumers, providers or workers. -
Undergraduate & Graduate
VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES August 2020 College of Arts & Sciences School of Engineering School of Business School of Health Sciences School of Communications School of Nursing School of Education CONTENTS Message from the President ..............................................................................3 Order of Exercises College of Arts & Sciences, School of Communications, School of Education – Tuesday, August 25, 2020, 5 p.m. .................4 School of Health Sciences, School of Nursing Thursday, August 27, 2020, 5 p.m. ........................................................5 School of Business, School of Engineering Thursday, August 27, 2020, 7:30 p.m. ..................................................6 Undergraduate Academic Achievement .....................................................7 2020 Graduates College of Arts & Sciences ........................................................................10 School of Business .......................................................................................12 School of Communications ......................................................................16 School of Education ...................................................................................18 School of Engineering ................................................................................19 School of Health Sciences .........................................................................20 School of Nursing .......................................................................................24 -
Recommendations for Businesses and Policymakers Ftc Report March 2012
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BUSINESSES AND POLICYMAKERS FTC REPORT FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION | MARCH 2012 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BUSINESSES AND POLICYMAKERS FTC REPORT MARCH 2012 CONTENTS Executive Summary . i Final FTC Privacy Framework and Implementation Recommendations . vii I . Introduction . 1 II . Background . 2 A. FTC Roundtables and Preliminary Staff Report .......................................2 B. Department of Commerce Privacy Initiatives .........................................3 C. Legislative Proposals and Efforts by Stakeholders ......................................4 1. Do Not Track ..............................................................4 2. Other Privacy Initiatives ......................................................5 III . Main Themes From Commenters . 7 A. Articulation of Privacy Harms ....................................................7 B. Global Interoperability ..........................................................9 C. Legislation to Augment Self-Regulatory Efforts ......................................11 IV . Privacy Framework . 15 A. Scope ......................................................................15 1. Companies Should Comply with the Framework Unless They Handle Only Limited Amounts of Non-Sensitive Data that is Not Shared with Third Parties. .................15 2. The Framework Sets Forth Best Practices and Can Work in Tandem with Existing Privacy and Security Statutes. .................................................16 3. The Framework Applies to Offline As Well As Online Data. .........................17 -
INTERNATIONAL PROFILES of Health Care Systems, 2013
INTERNATIONAL PROFILES OF HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, 2013 AUSTRALIA, CANADA, DENMARK, ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, JAPAN, THE NETHERLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, NORWAY, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, AND THE UNITED STATES EDITED BY SARAH THOMSON, LONDON SchOOL OF ECONOMIcs AND POLITICAL SCIENCE, ROBIN OSBORN, THE COMMONWEALTH FUND, DAVID SQUIRES, THE COMMONWEALTH FUND, AND MIRAYA JUN, LONDON SchOOL OF ECONOMIcs AND POLITICAL SCIENCE NOVEMBER 2013 THE COMMONWEALTH FUND is a private foundation that promotes a high performance health care system providing better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency. The Fund’s work focuses particularly on society’s most vulnerable, including low- income people, the uninsured, minority Americans, young children, and elderly adults. The Fund carries out this mandate by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy. An international program in health policy is designed to stimulate innovative policies and practices in the United States and other industrialized countries. INTERNATIONAL PROFILES OF HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, 2013 AUSTRALIA, CANADA, DENMARK, ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, JAPAN, THE NETHERLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, NORWAY, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, AND THE UNITED STATES EDITED BY SARAH THOMSON, LONDON SchOOL OF ECONOMIcs AND POLITICAL SCIENCE, ROBIN OSBORN, THE COMMONWEALTH FUND, DAVID SQUIRES, THE COMMONWEALTH FUND, AND MIRAYA JUN, LONDON SchOOL OF ECONOMIcs AND POLITICAL SCIENCE NOVEMBER 2013 Abstract: This publication presents overviews of the health care systems of Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Each overview covers health insur- ance, public and private financing, health system organization and governance, health care quality and coordination, disparities, efficiency and integration, use of information technology and evidence-based practice, cost containment, and recent reforms and inno- vations.