Consumer Policy Tools

Background Paper to Creating Confident Consumers

May 2003

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Consumer Representation

Consumer representation is the appointment of appropriate people to represent the consumer perspective and consumer interests on statutory boards, advisory bodies, departmental working parties and committees (where the consumer perspective is appropriate or required). This tool does not seek to specify particular policy outcomes for consumers, but instead seeks to improve decision-making processes by bringing decision-makers into contact with a wider range of perspectives. It is assumed that this will result in more robust and longer-lasting decisions, and in policies that can be better implemented.

Consumer representation does this by bringing an informed consumer perspective into the decision-making process, and by facilitating access to consumer expertise and opinions. [49]

[49] Note that the Ministry has developed guidelines for consumer representation. The guidelines are to be distributed to all Ministers, who are invited to draw them to the attention of their Chief Executives. [CAB Min (02) 32/3B refers].

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