Committees

Committee launches new inquiry on Brexit: consumer protection rights

19 April 2017

The EU Justice Sub-Committee launches a new inquiry into Brexit: consumer protection rights. Mr Pete Moorey, from Which? and Mr Matt Upton, from the Citzens Advice Bureau give evidence at the first oral evidence session.

Witnesses

Tuesday 25 April in Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster

At 10.45am

  • Mr Pete Moorey, Head of Campaigns, Which?
  • Mr Matt Upton, Head of Consumer Policy, the Citizens Advice Bureau

Background and topics for discussion

The EU Justice Sub-Committee under the Chairmanship of Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, undertakes its first evidence session in its latest Brexit related inquiry into the implications of Brexit for the UK's continued participation in the many pieces of EU legislation governing consumer protection rights. EU law confers many rights on UK consumers including protection against unfair commercial contracts and unfair contact terms. 

The first session is with Mr Peter Moorey of the consumer organisation Which? and Mr Matt Upton, from the Citizens Advice Bureau. The Committee looks forward to discussing a range of questions including:

  • What are the most important aspects of the EU's consumer protection acquis currently applying to the UK?
  • Which aspects of the EU's consumer protection rules ought to be retained when the UK leaves the EU? Are there any negative aspects of the EU consumer acquis that the UK ought to leave behind when we leave the EU?
  • How realistic is the Government's claim that its Great Repeal Bill will "preserve the relevant EU [consumer protection] law to ensure domestic law functions properly after exit [whilst helping to] ensure that UK consumers' rights continue to be robust after we have left the EU".
  • Whether there are important areas of the EU's consumer protection acquis that are not amenable to incorporation into UK law via the Great Repeal Bill? And, without alternatives in place, whether there will be any gaps in the UK's consumer protection laws after we leave the EU?
  • Will Brexit lead to a diminution or an increase in the consumer protection standards currently operating in the UK?

Further information

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