SOUTH NORFOLK MP Richard Bacon has told the consumer bodies for electricity and postal services that they have to do much better for British consumers. 

Mr Bacon, a member of the Commons public accounts committee, was speaking as the committee published its report into Energywatch and Postwatch.  The report finds that neither body is making enough effort to find out what issues are of most concern to consumers.
 

Furthermore, both watchdogs suffer from very low consumer recognition, with only 2 per cent of consumers saying they would turn to these bodies with a complaint, amongst a raft of other consumer agencies and organisations.

Mr Bacon said: "The whole purpose of a consumer body is to protect the interests of the consumer, but neither Energywatch nor Postwatch can really claim to be aware of what those interests are and it is hard to be the consumer's champion if no one knows you are there". 

The report also notes that although Energywatch and Postwatch are both based in central London, considerable savings could be made by relocating them.  Both bodies claim their current location is vital in order to maintain their contacts with central government and the media, but the committee finds that this is not a compelling reason for them to remain in central London.

Mr Bacon added: "There is no valid reason at all why Postwatch and Energywatch need to be based in central London.  Relocating Postwatch and Energywatch outside London will reduce costs and, I believe, have little or no negative impact on their ability to represent consumers effectively".

2 December 2005

See also:
PAC REPORT: Energywatch and Postwatch