HC Deb 23 June 1999 vol 333 cc413-4W
Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to encourage the use of the new BSI BS8600 for customer complaints. [85339]

Dr. Howells

The Government support the work of the British Standards Institution in creating better and fairer systems for the benefits of consumers and suppliers. This Department is keen to promote the rights and responsibilities of customers in all sectors and notes the new BSI standard for customer complaints as a contribution to this.

Knowledgeable and well informed consumers play an important role in enhancing the competitiveness of UK businesses. The new standard BS8600 offers useful guidance and is one of a number of options that can help businesses in setting up effective systems for responding to customer complaints.