Written question asked by Martyn Day (Scottish National Party) on Monday, 18 October 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 October 2021. It was answered by Paul Scully (Conservative) on Tuesday, 26 October 2021 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Trading Standards

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for the enforcement of trading standards following the impact of the (a) UK's departure from the EU and (b) recovery from the covid-19 outbreak.

Answer: Local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales are responsible for local Trading Standards services. Local authorities are independent from central government and are responsible for determining their resourcing priorities in accordance with the needs of the local electorate. The budget process of the Scottish and Welsh Governments results in the determination of the local government finance settlement which sets out the government grant. The Department for the Economy funds the Trading Standards Service in Northern Ireland.

Secondary information