Recommendation 15

Weak competition and consumer policy will lead to detriment for consumers and worse economic outcomes, particularly for the most vulnerable in society. We 50 Post-pandemic economic growth: state aid and post-Brexit competition policy encourage Ministers to build upon existing UK consumer law and to refrain from fundamental changes to it. Whilst UK consumer law is comprehensive, consumers still have low levels of understanding of their rights and enforcement is weak. We therefore call on Ministers to give consumer enforcement agencies additional powers and resources to improve their enforcement of consumer rights, in the interests of consumers and competition in markets. We also encourage the CMA to formally collaborate with consumer and competition law agencies in regulated sectors to reduce consumer detriment.