This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'conflict between Trading Standards statutory duties and local authority Trading Standards discretion'.


Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local 
Government
Fry Building 
2 Marsham Street 
London 
SW1P 4DF
T 030 3444 0000
www.gov.uk/mhclg
 
Ogmet
Date: 3 June 2019
 
 
Dear Sir/Madam
 
Freedom of Information Act 2000 - 4258651
 
Thank you for your request for information which was received on 23 May 2019.
 
You requested: "Dear Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 
I thought this query may be a matter for your attention. If I'm wrong please let me 
know. 

BEIS explain the following: ..Each local authority Trading standards do have 
discretion as to whether, and to what extent, to investigate a particular complaint and 
their decisions 
are taken in the collective interests of the public, rather than the interest of the 
individual complainant. 

They also explain: MHCLG provides core grant funding to local authorities and that, 
finances and priority setting for local Trading Standards teams is ultimately a matter 
for local 
discretion. 

Is there not a conflict between Trading Standards statutory duties and local authority 
Trading standards discretion? That one wishes to present evidence to the same, 
where should a 
complaint be directed? Is it to you? 

A reference to any paper or electronic document held by you which deals with the 
above would be welcome. That no such document exists; no provision exists, kindly 
identify who to alarm?
".
 
This request has been considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
 
I am writing to advise you that, following a search of our paper and electronic 
records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by 
the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.

TEMPLATE FRAMEWORK – NOT TO BE USED FOR SUBMISSION 
OF DRAFT ANSWERS
I can inform you that trading standards policy and funding responsibility is a policy 
led by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). You may 
wish to contact their FOI Team about your request. This can be reached at the 
following email address:
xxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
If you remain unhappy after having been through the council’s complaints process, 
you may wish to approach the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. The 
independent Ombudsman is charged by Parliament with investigating complaints 
from members of the public who have suffered personal injustice arising from 
maladministration by local authorities. Further information on the Local Government 
and Social Care Ombudsman can be found at: http://www.lgo.org.uk/.
Complaints procedure
 
If you are unhappy with this response, we will review it and report back to you. (This 
is called an internal review.) If you want us to do this, let us know by return email 
within two months of receiving this response. You can also ask by letter addressed 
to:
 
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Knowledge and Information Access Team
4th Floor SE, Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London, SW1P 4DF
 
If you are unhappy with the outcome of this internal review, you can ask the 
independent Information Commissioner to investigate. The Information 
Commissioner can be contacted at email address xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx or use thei
online form at ico.org.uk/concerns or call them on 0303 123 1113.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
MHCLG FOI Team