.
Chairman’s Chatterings
To switch or not to switch
NfCG Conference
Beans, Beans, Beans
A Beginners’ Guide to Current Food Labelling Legislation
Prepaid Funerals
Weighting for Metric
Hearing Aids - a personal experience
Keep Bath Tidy
MAFF latest
Bath Farmers’ Market
Veggie-vision
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995
‘It gets up my nose!’
Bath CAB Report
Trading Standards & OFTEL
Transport Report
Pressing Matters
Joining Bath Group
With another six months behind us much has been achieved and the Group remains buoyant. Jenny and I attended the NfCG Annual Conference in York in September and found both the Conference and York very interesting, especially as an evening tour of the City was included.. It was particularly useful to mingle with and talk to members of other Groups. Ideas can be exchanged, information gathered, hopes and aspirations expressed in a social atmosphere without the pressures that are present at a one day conference.
Committee members have been as active as ever, involved in the ongoing transport and traffic saga, the Farmers’ Market, the Chamber of Commerce and meetings generally. Millie Hicks has become our MAFF representative and provides a continual update for us. She and Margaret Rowden hope to attend an important Open Forum on food labelling on November 17th in Bath.
Our general interest speaker in July was Bath Access Officer, Eamon McClelland who gave us an informative talk highlighting the problems encountered by the disabled and how the new Disability Discrimination Act will enforce significant improvements to access generally. He details more of this in his article, which follows. Please support these meetings, non-members are always welcome.
Ken Sutherland
As electricity suppliers compete for business, switching companies may save you money. Changing from quarterly bills to monthly direct debit will also reduce charges. Consumer Association figures produced in August and approved by OFGEM, show that the average household using around 3.300 units (Kwh) at the standard quarterly rate would pay SWEB £266 with Direct Debit.
The cheapest supplier is: Independent Energy - save £20
Next cheapest : MEB and Norweb - save £10 -14 SWEB do not seem to offer a dual fuel deal at the moment but MEB and Norweb give an annual discount of around £10 for dual supply. SWEB do offer a deposit scheme which reduces cost. (British Gas have an advance payment scheme). Other options include Saga, Barclaycard/Eastern Energy, Tesco/Norweb.
Contact OFGEM for details of tariffs on 0800 887777 and work out which is best for you.
This years conference, the first weekend long one for a while, proved extremely worthwhile, as Ken has already reported. The theme of the Conference was "Consumer Consultation in the new Millennium" A panel of speakers representing business and consumer interests discussed this theme in the Keynote Forum which was entitled ‘Consumer Consultation, Myth or Reality?’ There were many questions and comments from the floor. Most agreed that consumer consultation could be extremely valuable in allowing the public to have an input before setting policy. The NfCG survey ‘The role of Consumer Consultation m the 21st century’ also emphasised this with the conclusion that ‘There can be no doubt that those active in consumer affairs believe that the role of consumer consultation is crucial for the future’.
A few reservations were expressed as to the integrity of some of the consultations and suspicions that they could be ‘window-dressing’ with decisions already made and only lip service paid to views beard. There was also concern that consultation was sometimes a means of delaying actual action.
However, everyone appreciated that it could provide a genuine opportunity for the voice of the consumer to be heard and be able to influence policy. Three Groups made presentations
It was obvious from these reports that a large membership can make all the difference to the size and complexity of any survey carried out!!
Workshops were held in the afternoon on ‘New developments in Food Technology’, ‘Financial Services & Consumer Protection’ and ‘Carers - Concerns & Problems.’ More details of these will probably appear in the next NfCG news.
The Annual General Meeting was opened with an inspiring address by NfCG President Baroness Wilcox of Plymouth. The Conference ended in an atmosphere of optimism for the future.
Prices of a standard 425 gm size can of Baked Beans in Tomato sauce can vary enormously. The most expensive costing seven times as much as the cheapest brand on offer. The cheaper brands obtain their flavour from tomato puree, as does the most expensive brand looked at in this survey. Tomatoes are used in the brands in the middle of the price range. The cheaper brands all have water as their second listed ingredients.
All brands are thickened with starch, the most expensive brand using Brown Rice Flour, and the majority using Modified Maize Starch (Cornflour). The least expensive brand did not specify the food source of the modified starch and would therefore have to be avoided by anyone with an intolerance to wheat or gluten, in case wheat flour was the starch used in the product.
No product claims to be free of GM food ingredients or indicates that it contains any GM food item.
Interestingly a number of varieties contain onion extract. As this can cause allergic reactions in some people one obviously cannot take for granted the contents of any tinned goods, especially as ‘recipes’ are often changed from batch to batch. One product also contained cow’s milk derived ingredients, which make it unsuitable for those with an allergy to dairy products or lactose intolerance.
Whole Earth declare the variety of beans on the food label, all other brands use the generic word ‘Beans’. Whole Earth also state that Tahini flavouring used in their product contains soya beans.
The use of the word ‘Healthy’ on a food label means nothing and is no indicator that this particular product can safely be eaten by anyone with a health problem.
There seems to be a great similarity between the ingredients used in most of Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce (as perhaps one might expect). Most people will chose the flavour they prefer. If a limited budget dictates the choice then the Supermarkets own brands offer good value for money.
NB. In the year 2000, the label will have to state the percentage of ingredients that are in the name of the food - Heinz Beans already show this on their label It should make comparisons easier.
* This is a general guide. Prices can vary week by week and from Supermarket to Supermarket even for the same brand.
Heinz and HP declare that their products are Gluten free and free from artificial colours and preservatives. Heinz adds that their beans contain no artificial flavourings. HP Healthy claims to be reduced sugar and salt with the additional information on the label that this is 50% less added sugar and 25% less added salt. All the ingredients listed on the Whole Earth beans label have been organically grown or produced. HP organic claims this for their beans, sugar, tomato puree and rice starch.
The table data in support of this article will follow as soon as possible.
After 31st December 1999, the Government will cease the use of:
It will authorise the continued use of:
In the lean years after the second world war, legislation was introduced to protect the shopper by enforcing minimum compositional standards for a wide range of staple
food stuffs. The biggest risk facing the consumer was believed to be the adulteration of these staples with inferior and cheaper substitutes. Labelling requirements were minimal.
50 years later we shop in a very different environment. The choice and variety of food, particularly pre-packed, has exploded. New technologies in the food industry have been developed. Trade between European Union States has been handicapped because different countries may share the name of a food, but have different ideas of what the food should be like. (Classic examples are sausages and chocolate).
Lastly and more importantly, we are all more affluent. Clearly, compositional standards by themselves can be at best inflexible, and at worst a barrier to development. The majority of compositional standards have therefore been abandoned and replaced by extensive labelling requirements.
Currently, the overwhelming majority of pre-packed food is required by law to carry the following information:
In addition, meat products have to state either the meat content or percentage of added water. However, a few goods (such as chocolates and alcoholic drinks) do not need to state all the above information.
In 2000, the label will also have to state the percentage of ingredients that are in the name of the food, and whose quantity might influence a customer in the choice of food. We will then learn for example, the amount of ham and pineapple in a pizza, or the amount of fish in fish fingers.
Food that is not pre-packed, or is pre-packed at the same place as it is sold, need only carry its name, whether any ingredient has been irradiated or derived from GM Soya or maize, and in most cases the weight.
Millions of pounds of pounds of private and public money are spent each year providing and checking all information. Surely this means consumers are being protected as never before? For someone whose child becomes hyperactive after eating tartrazine, or for a vegetarian, the information is a godsend. However, observation your local Supermarket may suggest that all the expensive information is often not read when customers are deciding to buy. If it is not read, then it night as well not exist. Worse, a cynic might argue that the emphasis on labelling has allowed adulteration of our foods. It is, after all perfectly legal to sell ham with 20% added water as long as the label says so.
Finally, the sandwich maker who supplies the local garage with sandwiches has to provide exactly the same amount of information as a giant like Nestle but relatively speaking has far fewer resources to do so. Our current labelling regime disproportionately handicaps the smaller manufacturer and importer who frequently specialise in higher quality more interesting food.
In short, the law now provides extensive information to help the customer make an informed choice. Unless the customer reads and uses this information, then its provision has been a waste of money.
Our decision to arrange our funerals was not taken lightly. It would not have been easy for our son to travel too often and his ideas might have been different to what we might like.
We approached a Bath funeral parlour and were interviewed by the director. He informed us that five parlours in Bath were owned by an American company, which we already knew from the Consumer Group survey a few years ago. What we didn’t know was that Matrons of Homes were being given £50 as an incentive to encourage families to use the American companies when loved ones died.
The director repeated this information over and over, quite unnecessarily. However each item we requested such as hymns and flowers etc. we were told our family should deal with. The final price was £1557 each, but if we ordered and paid by a certain date, a discount of £25 would be allowed.
We felt very disillusioned and didn’t care for our treatment, so we decided to try another parlour. I phoned a private company on the outskirts of Bath. The representative offered to visit and talk to us, which we accepted. His treatment was so kind and helpful. We told him all our wishes which he wrote down. Hymns and flowers were included, even the playing of a Vera Lynn record as the coffin entered the chapel. He also offered to phone the Normandy Veteran Secretaiy to arrange a Guard of Honour for Ron. Our final price was £1600 each, slightly more than the previous one, but we feel confident that arrangements will be carried out well and that all our requests will be met.
We have not named names - but at least you can be alerted to the fact that the service offered does vary. Cheapest is not always the best! If you have personal experience of any of the pre-paid funeral services we shall be interested to hear from you.
The Treasury is taking an interest in this area at the moment and has published a consultation paper on Regulation of the Prepaid Funeral Industry A bill now before Parliament will contain powers for these plans to be brought within the scope of the Financial Services Authority, though the industry will be able to come up with an alternative.
The National Funerals College in Bristol has produced a report on funeral charges and practices: The Dead Citizen ‘s Charter’ It makes a large number of suggestions for improving funerals and having them more prepared in advance and more personal. Copies can be obtained from the College at 3 Priory Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1TX, price £5. Thanks to Exeter Group for this information.
About twenty years ago, I developed Menieres Disease in my right ear - an unpleasant experience for anyone. This resulted in the destruction of the inner ear by Ultra Sound, so you can imagine that I have tried to be very careful with my remaining hearing.
On Christmas Day 1998 I started a cold, this turned into a nasty ear infection in my remaining ear which took some time and more than one course of antibiotics to clear. Gradually, my hearing deteriorated and, to make matters worse, tinnitus developed - far worse than that which I had become accustomed to in the other ear. I write this to try to explain the feelings of desperation which overcame both myself and my family.
In order to speed matters up, I went to private consultations with an ENT consultant and an audiologist. The consultant was the most sympathetic I have met - he knew what was happening to me and for once, I was not just another "ear" to him - I was a human being. I had tests with the audiologist who said that there was a hearing aid in the audiology department which would just suit me and put all my problems right. She took an impression for the ear mould and I would be contacted in a few days time and I would be fitted and all would be well.
The day came, - this was National Health - the mould seemed to be a little uncomfortable - I put that down to my inexperience, but the first hearing aid she fitted made the tinnitus worse nor was my hearing improved. So she fitted another one which seemed a little better. Over the next few weeks, I tried hard to get used to this - the pain was getting quite severe and my hearing was not helped much. In the end, after a day conference which I found almost too difficult to cope with, I returned to the hospital to have the aid checked. It was found that the mould was far too big and that my ear was sore. The mould was filed down and another impression was taken. The aid itself was not checked.
Again I had to return the aid, which although much more comfortable, was not functioning as it should - having had my expectations raised, it was quite disappointing to find that I still could not hear. Again, I returned, this time to find that the aid itself was faulty - whether it had been faulty from the beginning there is no way of knowing. I was given a cancellation appointment that morning, after it had been done, I was shown how the aids are adapted to the audiology report via a computer. This one was far better than before. While asking around I found a surprising number of people who had been fitted with aids, but had given up on them - this was by no means a scientific poll, just people I knew. Also, in the booklet with the aid, there was information regarding in-home aids for helping deaf people to cope with everyday life, the information regarding this was misleading and I found that I had to ask in the audiology department to get an appointment with the Hearing Therapy Clinic at St. Martin’s hospital.
I wrote a letter to the Health Trust regarding my experiences mentioning my straw poll - just mentioned- included in that was my opinion of the waiting area. To the credit of all concerned, my letter was dealt with promptly and efficiently. There is a system of follow up which had not been carried out in my case (nor in the cases of the people mentioned above). It is possible to attend the clinic which is held each weekday morning for repairs etc. The waiting area was spruced up - old leaflets and notices removed - and it looks much better now. I was fitted with an in-ear aid and a masker to try to help with the tinnitus. Better information is now included in the booklet - which I was asked to approve and I was able to attend the Hearing Therapy Clinic.
There are several aids to help in the home - I was concerned to find something to help me watch t.v. I was able to test the equipment at home and finally chose a system which does not involve the loss of sound for anyone else nor wires encircling the room - it is very good and uses infrared rays - which is a similar system to that available at the Theatre Royal - and which anyone can request.
Both the aids have the "1"’ facility - which is for an induction loop system and by some lucky chance we had just bought a new cordless phone facility - for an entirely different reason - which also has this system. So I had a measure of hearing, my speech was not affected, but I could no longer listen to music and I had the most terrible tinnitus - which actually woke me up at night time sometimes. On two separate occasions, once in July, and once in August, my hearing returned - just for a day each time, and then, what joy, it returned for longer. I do not know how long this reprieve will last - it is apparently quite usual for the disease - but no one told me. My spell had lasted for about eight months. I still have tinnitus, the medication I take gives me a constant thirst and dry mouth, but that I can tolerate.
The main point I have to make is this: - if you have been fitted with a hearing aid and you cannot get along with it, do make sure that you return to the audiology department - think of the cost to the Health Service of all those unused hearing aids and the cost to yourself when a visit could make all the difference. I personally have had a traumatic year so far, but hopefully, I can now cope with the measure of hearing loss that I have - and, fingers crossed - there are no more episodes of noises and, as can happen, complete hearing loss.
Margaret Rowden
The new chewing-gum removing machine has now made its appearance and started to tackle one of the major street problems. Southgate has already been successfully blitzed. The machine will also attack graffiti. Five extra sweepers are also to be employed, including two ‘hot-spot’ cleaners with mobiles. From October 1st there has been a crackdown on the dumping of trade waste sacks. Fines of £2,500 can be imposed if a particular problem is not dealt with after several warnings. The Bath Chronicle has given the initiative considerable publicity. The Group awarded the Community Flower Challenge Trophy to Chelsea Road and the shield to Julian Road traders.
A Community Wood is to be developed on a 24 acre site off Primrose Hill, to celebrate the Millennium. The land is to be donated. Solicitors are drawing up a legal agreement. A Charity will have to be set up for its administration.
On October 6th the new District Commander Chief Superintendent Steve Allen, outlined the latest strategy he was introducing to combat crime. This divides Bath into North and South Sectors with an Inspector in charge of each team of Officers. The meeting considered the elements that should be included in the plan of action, these were: speeding traffic, parking on pavements, CCTV, dwelling burglaries, youth disorder and priority policing. Encouragingly recent crime statistics have shown a significant decrease for some offences. Hopefully the new initiatives will produce results but it was stressed that everyone has a responsibility for the safety of their own goods and property and reducing crime had to be a community effort
As NfCG Chairman Marie Jennings wants to know the Consumer Groups better, she invited members of the Bath Group to her home in Bisley, Glos. for a chat, together with Sue Payne (NfCG Vice President). Seven of the committee were able to attend including Ron and Norah who have been involved in the Group from its very beginning. A minibus was hired and an extremely pleasant evening was enjoyed with an opportunity of exchanging views and experiences. Marie told the Group about her plans for the future of NfCG and of the success of this years Conference in York. We told her about the topics that concerned us - and how, in spite of our small numbers, we are able make our views heard. Our involvement in the local community as consumer representatives on a number of committees gave us credibility and provided us with an opportunity to influence decisions being taken. Our thanks to Marie for her hospitality. We hope we shall be able to repay it.
The amount of information that is received each week by our MAFF representative, Millie Hicks, has to be seen to be believed. Many trees must have been cut down for her benefit alone! She has decided that she will produce a regular summary of the reports. Some of the most relevant are included here. If anyone wishes for more information on any particular topic or would like the complete list, please phone Millie on Bath 313978 and she will send it to them.
1. Résumé of documents from 3 1.08.99 -
Industry alerted to Contamination Levels of Soy sauce 31.08.99 Reports from (Germany & Netherlands warned of unacceptably high levels of chemical contaminants in products from China. Survey in U.K. to be conducted forthwith.
2. MAFF saving old orchards 15.09.99
Under the Countryside Stewardship scheme, £85 m has been set aside to pay orchard owners to restore old orchards, both to re-establish rare apple varieties and to maximise the environmental benefits to birds, insects and wild flowers. Participants must allow public access and undertake not to use pesticides or fertilisers.
3. Elliott Morley announces the way forward for flood warning 15. 09.99
The Environment Agency will give a more focused approach to potential risks and the likely impacts of flooding. Local authorities will receive digital flood-plain maps to assess flood risk and warning and emergency response, while a public awareness campaign will be launched on October 18th.
4. Reassuring results from pesticide monitoring of Maximum Pesticide Residues levels by Working Party on Pesticide Residues 16. 09.99
73% of fruit, vegetables, cereals, animal & fish products tested free of residues. Milk is now free of lindane, baby foods are safe, as are lettuces. Imported & some U. K. pears have some residues and are to be tested monthly for 6 months.
5. G. M. labelling on menu from September 19th 17. 09.99
All restaurants, pubs, canteens and catering premises must identify any G. M. ingredients which they serve, and ensure that staff can inform customers. This legislation applies to Monsanto’s G. M. soya and Novartis’ G. M. maize which was previously approved.
6. Nick Brown welcomes Milk Marque Initiative 17. 09.99
Milk Marque to split into three successor organisations to allow a period of stability. (Watch this space!!!)
7. Joyce Quinn celebrates Regional Food & Drink at Breakfast Banquet 01.10.99 To launch Farmhouse Breakfast 2000, celebrating the variety and quality of regional farmhouse breakfasts. Food served included apple juice, organic muesli, sweet cure bacon and N. Irish rare breed sausages. 5 major regional press trips are planned between September and January showing all steps from "plough to plate"
8. Food Chain & Crops for Industry Foresight Panel launches Task Forces 07.10.99
Action plans will be developed on key issues affecting the long term competitiveness of the UK food chain, crops for industry sector and quality of life of people living and working in the UK.
Six task forces -
9. Safeguarding Britain ‘s Food Heritage Seminar 08.10.99
Held on October 12th at Shepton Mallet. To raise awareness of an EU scheme which provides for the protection of food names on a geographical or traditional recipe basis. Sessions were held on Cheddar cheese, Cornish clotted cream and traditional products of the West.
10. Joyce Quinn announced a joint initiative by ‘Food From Britain’ and ‘Somerfield Stores’b(21.10.99)
whereby over 1,000 speciality food and drink products will be stocked. Welcoming an important first for the industry she emphasised the importance of sourcing regional food. Customers are taking an increased interest in the food they buy. They want to know where it comes from and how it is made. Somerfield have the vision to recognise that the demand for regional food is growing.
The market is now two years old and has been followed by others in several parts of the country. As your correspondent was away for the day of celebration, she cannot comment -there was going to be a cake and special guests, and presumably this was as successful as could be.
We are now into the most fruitful time to be enjoying the Market - there will be lots of produce including apples and cider, beer, and muffins. This will lead into the Christmas Market - at which there has been, in the past, such a happy atmosphere that it has been quite an experience to attend.
We are saddened at the untimely death of Valerie, the Green Park Manager.
Margaret Rowden
Using artificial intelligence software and a modified photocopier scanner, "Veggie Vision" has already been tried out in a British supermarket to identify and weigh any particular variety of fruit or vegetable. The system, which will eventually replace barcodes, is being developed by IBM at its New York research centre. A 3D scan of the item allows the building up of a profile of the item, of size, shape, texture and weight, which is then compared with the database of produce carried by the supermarket. "Veggie Vision" is unlikely to be available for five years because the large sapphire crystal on which it relies to form its lens is still too expensive and delicate for everyday use. Costs will drop, however, as the big supermarkets buy in.
Well, now. Here, in Bath, we don’t have to wait, except for a few days until the next Saturday Farmers’ Market. There, the apples, for example will have been grown locally, picked in season and brought in by members of farming families which often go back generations. Each variety will have its own distinctive flavour, colour, texture and due time for gathering and storing. Colourful Beauty of Bath will be picked and used in August, golden Russets picked in October for use or storing until December, Pippins harvested in December will still be crisp and smooth-skinned in May simply by storing in a cool, dry place.
For me, the supermarkets can keep their colourless, flavourless, tough-skinned, mono-textured monstrosities which have been picked too soon (for out of season transport), doctored to prolong shelf life and hugely overpriced to cover the cost of already existing technology. As for the sapphire blue of the still-to-be-developed lens, how could that be compared to the forget-me-not blue eyes of the farmer who serves you? He is involving you in tried and tested husbandry that has served mankind for thousands of years.
Let the technology go and supersede itself as it is, even as you read this.
Milly HicksBath Farmers’ Market, at Green Park Station 9.00 am to 2.00 pm.
We trade on the 1st and 3rd
Saturdays every month!
Locally produced • Quality • Freshness Organic and conventional
Meet your friends at the Bath Farmers’ market
In April of this year Mrs. Margaret Hodge, Minister for Disabled People, announced new regulations which are intended to give disabled people equal rights to goods, facilities and services in the High Street. Mrs. Hodge said:
"For too long disabled people have been denied the simple right of access to goods and services which the rest of us take for granted. . ..The new rights will lead to a High Street revolution in the way that services are delivered to disabled people. Anyone providing services to the public - from corner shop to Government agencies - will have to consider what adjustments they can reasonably make for disabled people. For example, shops and restaurants could change their layout to accommodate wheelchairs. Larger organisations such as local authorities or banks, could consider making more information available in large print or braille."
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 addresses the needs of disabled people in a variety of fields. The section of the Act coming into force on the 1st October specifically refers to the provision of Goods, Facilities and Services.
The Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against a disabled person by:
References to offering services also includes providing goods and facilities.
The Act places a duty on the service provider to:
The duty to provide the service by a reasonable alternative method will be further reinforced in 2004 when a duty to alter or remove a physical obstacle to access will be imposed under the Act. It therefore makes sense for service providers to plan ahead now to make alterations to their premises to benefit everyone before this date.
Service providers have five years in which literally, to put their houses in order, To do so they will need comprehensive guidance. as to what physical changes to their premises they should consider. Present indications are that the guidance level available will be minimal. The Government’s current method of encouragement and promotion of the changes seems to be to use some businesses and providers as test case ‘guinea pigs’. This method of applying new legislation is expensive for the providers and extremely confrontational for disabled people. In my opinion the courts are not a suitable forum for deciding on these matters. Decisions made will need to be reported in order to inform. Decisions will be made on a piecemeal basis, with the courts deciding each individual case on the facts. Therefore it will take some time before definitive guidance, or even a pattern, can emerge.
Margaret Rowden would be interested in any comments on the proposals. Meanwhile she will be keeping her eyes open for hazards. She will also make a couple more specific trips before and after Christmas to see whether the Discrimination Act is making a difference.
Many products contain the ingredients ‘flavouring’ or ‘parfum’ (or ‘perfume’ or ‘fragrance’) .There are over 3,000 flavourings in UK use and, unlike other additives, they are not controlled by the addition of a number which indicates what they are. Currently, the law is that, ‘nothing must be added to food that will injure health’ I (MAFF publication) In other words, that delicious chocolatey taste may actually be chocolate - or it may be a synthetic substance. In some cases manufacturers list ‘natural flavouring’, but if the ingredient is listed merely as ‘flavouring’, it could be either natural or artificial.
Some people consider that, since only tiny amounts are used, and there is no (proven) health risk, artificial flavourings are not anything to make a fuss about. In fact, nowadays, we have become so used to artificial flavourings that few people can tell the difference. Does it really matter if I can’t tell the difference between the taste of a real strawberry and a chemical substance? It’s a matter for thought, I think.
Another mystery additive that we are all subjected to, and which is also uncontrolled, is ‘parfum’. This is used in cosmetics. You may think you are buying pure lavender scent, for example, but since proportions don’t have to be listed, and if ‘parfum’ is listed, you can be sure that most of the ‘lavender’ smell is ‘parfum’ - i.e., artificial. Parfum is of course, the French word for perfume; presumably ‘parfum’ is a trade name for artificial perfume of some kind. However, a letter of enquiry to one manufacturer elicited the response that the ingredients are a trade secret! ‘Fragrance’ is another mystery ingredient.
Household products frequently do not list their ingredients at all. Some have a partial list -" ....contains amongst other ingredients..." and parfum’ is often listed. Again, just what this perfume is, is a mystery. I have also recently bought a mouth wash containing something called ‘aroma’ - presumably yet another trade name for a unidentified smell’.
Unlike mystery flavourings, mystery perfumes (whatever they are called) may actually be harmful: a friend suffers from a serious allergy to both cosmetics and household products that are perfumed. Should we not be told what these additives are, so that we can make an informed choice?
The Bureau has dealt with over 18,500 enquiries during the year, these include 1,125 on consumer matters, goods, services, complaints, credit & finance, utilities, insurance, transport etc. Its aims and principles are ‘to ensure that individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities or of the services available to them or through an inability to express their needs effectively. And equally to exercise a responsible influence on the development of social policies and services, both locally and nationally.’ The Service is both completely independent and free. In September 1998 the Council agreed a five-year funding partnership agreement with the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux to extend all CAB services district-wide and so make their services more widely accessible. Clients have already benefited and from October 1st there will be further benefits including:
The role of advisers in consumer protection encompasses all the familiar elements such as consumer education, pre-shopping advice, assistance in resolving complaints and mediation in consumer disputes. It also includes influencing policy in trade, industry and regulation.
Marie-Helene Kutek who is our local B & N.E.S council advice officer and an executive member of the Institute of Consumer Affairs (ICA), recently represented our local interests at a telecommunications seminar. Hosted by OFTEL, the subject of the day was : OFTELJICA -‘Raising Customer Awareness of Rights and Choices in Telecommunications.’
Marie-Helene reports:
OFTEL’s goal is the achievement of the best deal for UK telecommunications customers in terms of quality, choice and value for money. To help achieve this goal, OFTEL is collaboratively developing a new project on raising awareness of rights and choices in telecommunications.
There were several presentations and discussions. The first covered the processing of personal data and new customer rights in relation to unsolicited faxes and telemarketing. The second speaker announced the imminent publication of comparative price information from different telecom suppliers. OFTEL will also be publishing information about complaints received, with a chart showing performance rates, including its own, and naming names. We next heard about the proposed introduction of an arbitration scheme for telecom disputes. I am participating in the consultation process for this scheme.
During the discussions, the participants agreed that their experience indicated that consumers are not always clear about their rights and choices or whom to approach for advice. It was also agreed that there is no single, ideal format which will cater for all consumers. Whatever the format, there needs to be variety and information needs to be presented as succinctly as possible. We considered specific examples:
It was suggested that OFTEL’s role could be promoted as many people have not heard of them, even though they deal with consumers’ telephone service and billing complaints. The forthcoming publications and the fact that the Director General of OFTEL now has certain powers allowing him to intervene to change terms in certain contracts, all combine to provide publicity opportunities.
We look forward to reading the information about price comparisons to help us choose the right supplier to meet our needs. We are also looking forward to reading the ‘Complaints Chart’. Who will be the chart topper?
OFTEL
50 Ludgate Hill, London
EC4M 7JJ
Tel: 0171-634 8700 Fax: 0171-634 8943
Internet:http://www.oftel.gov.uk
Trading Standards
9-10 Bath Street,
Bath BA1 1SN
Tel: 01225-396 755
Advice line is available Monday to Friday
10-12.30
"The UK has one of the most competitive telecoms markets in the world New operators are bringing new services to the market and forcing existing firms to up their game to the benefit of consumers. Consumers have a wide choice of International and long- distance carriers and most have a choice of local operator too." DTI, Modern Market: confident consumers, July 1999
The agenda of the first meeting of the Public Liaison Committee in September listed some of the major areas of concern facing the Council i.e. the Local Transport Plan, Bus Quality Partnerships, Park & Ride, CI:TE proposals and the Bath City Centre Southgate Scheme etc. as well as integrated transport matters with the railway & bus/coach companies.
There have been numerous other transport meetings where many and varied views have been expressed. There have been consultation documents and exhibitions, newspaper articles and surveys of public opinion. Proposals have been put forward, thrown out or modified. Still the traffic builds up and frustration grows. Now there is the fiasco over the work on the Cleveland Bridge junction and the resulting hold-ups.
Certainly leaving our cars behind would, in theory, be a good idea? BUT - there are an ever increasing number of complaints of time-tabled buses that just do not appear. One can appreciate it is very difficult for drivers to keep to time with all the present road problems. However where are the drivers?? The influx of new vehicles is to be welcomed but they are no use to anyone if there is no-one to take them out!
Perhaps using Park and Ride is the answer? BUT - the Council have just decided to raise Park and Ride charges (discouraging passengers!) and they have agreed to use money earmarked for a park & ride site east of the city to try and make up some of the £671,000 shortfall of anticipated income from car parking income! Doesn’t this seem a rather short sighted policy!! If you cannot rely on public transport walking and cycling are the other options. Options open to a limited few - and even they risk accident or asphyxiation!!
We await a solution - but with little confidence!
"Bus gate scheme delayed amid fierce criticism" - a decision is now not likely until early next year. 6.10.99
This was to be one of the ‘carrots’ to develop a Quality Partnership with Badgerline, together with more bus lanes and bus priorities. Does this put the ‘Partnership’ in jeopardy? The Company promises yet more new buses but there seem to be difficulties recruiting and keeping drivers so how can they hope to provide a quality service?
‘Pedestrian-friendly city centre scheme to go-ahead’ 6. 10.99
Milsom Street is to become a 20 mph zone with three traffic speed tables and a ban on daytime parking. The roadway in Green Street is to be raised to pavement level at a cost of £120,000!! and closed to traffic from l0 am to 4 pm on Saturdays.
There are also proposals to close Swallow Street and alter traffic arrangements in York Street and Beauford Square. In the future Quiet Street, Barton Street and Trim Street may also be closed. We will all wait to see where the traffic eventually goes.
‘New Study to tackle Bath congestion’ 7. 10.99
Government officials are preparing to launch a study into how traffic through Bath’s most congested junction (the London Road, Cleveland Bridge) can be reduced by taking a fresh look at the A46/A4/A36 route carrying traffic to the south It will investigate the possibility of sending M4 traffic through the A350.
What will Melksham and Westbury have to say about that?
"More Road Chaos Ahead" 9.10.99
Need more be said!!
Developers have now produced yet more plans for the area including an ambitious transport terminal linking bus and rail facilities. These revised plans should have now been submitted, and be available for public comment shortly and that could mean a decision by the end of the year.
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