8 October 2013 – Update on government consultation PA34
Several pedlars wrote during September 2013 asking for an update on the government consultation and pedlars.info provided the following information… click each link for more information.
update on government consultation URN12/605 & 606 published November 2012:
As you should know the consultation reply period ended in April.
Since then pedlars have repeatedly formalised “complaints” to government about –
1 flaws & failures in the “so-called” consultation process March 2011-August 2012;
2 failure by MP David Heath & BIS’s Norman Lamb to pedlars request to consult on legislative amendment proposals 6/7 June 2012;
3 failure by BIS to respond to 5 written questions from pedlars 15 June 2012;
4 extraordinary written refusal by BIS Onikosi to read pedlars draft proposals – scroll down to 17 August 2012;
5 failure by BIS to substantively respond to pedlars Briefing to Sect of State 29 September 2012;
6 shock change of BIS pedlar policy within URN 12/605 published November 2012;
7 failure by BIS to substantively respond to pedlars 2nd Briefing to Sect of State 11 January 2013;
8 failure by BIS Onikosi to respond to pedlars draft Third Option proposals 27 January 2013 – updated from 7 June 2012;
9 failure by BIS URN appointed Complaints officer Conway to engage with stakeholder complaints 28 January 2013;
10 failure by BIS to respond to stakeholder’s concerns about giving councils excessive powers 10 February 2013;
11 failure by BIS to respond to stakeholder’s assessment of their URN12/605 proposals 10 February 2013;
12 failure by BIS to respond to warning of consultation incompetence 10 March 2013;
13 failure by BIS Onikosi &/or Minister Swinson to engage with pedlars concerns prior to URN reply deadline 26 March 2013;
14 failure by BIS to respond to the allegation that minister Jo Swinson conspired to frustrate pedlars 27 March 2013;
15 formal complaint that BIS adopts “policy to ignore stakeholders” communications 2 July 2013;
change of operatives at BIS:
Not for the first time BIS has had another clean-out of staff connected with a consultation and again without reasons being declared. Previous staff going missing include Dennison, the SD staff Pierre Morell, Kerry Johnes but whereas Dennison’s consultation with pedlars was about amending the Pedlars Act… all subsequent staff have been hell bent on convincing themselves (only) that they have a case to either do nothing or repeal the Pedlars Act to conform to the Services Directive. BIS incompetence since Dennison’s departure has been consistent and we notice until recently that no individual at BIS is prepared to sign off communications… instead an amorphous/ambiguous Consultation Team.
We have just learnt that a Paul Bland has taken over responsibility for pedlars and street trading policy. Without declaring who it is, he inform us that “we are working through the evidence received and expect to issue a response this Autumn”. He adds “I am keen to engage with the pedlar community before finalising the policy details and will be setting up a stakeholder event at BIS in November”.
It appears unrealistic that he can issue a consultation response in Autumn and also have a stakeholder “event” in November before finalising policy. We remain hopeful that this person can be taken on his word that “policy will not be finalised before a meeting” at which pedlars will expect responses to the 15 complaints above. We have asked him to be specific about what respondents he is inviting to the “event”. Subject to his response we will ask for an agenda to approve before committing to attend as we have previous experience of a wasteful “tea & biscuit” event during the previous consultation.
We know that of the 60 pedlar respondents not all will be available to attend such a meeting and ask those who joined with pedlars.info as signatories to the consultation to confirm by email that either they wish to attend or in the alternative that they accept that administrators at pedlars.info attend and speak on their behalf. Our position on the Third Option has not changed.
Please let us have your response within 5 days.
Robert
admin