21/06/01 - Scottish Authorities To Benefit From Government Funding 

Date: 21st June 2001 
The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS)
welcomed the approval of two Scottish bids for funding from the 
Department of Trade and Industry modernisation fund for trading standards. 

The successful bids are for a regional co-ordinator for Trading Standards 
in Scotland and a pilot project to look at the use of the new Stop Now 
Orders in the Sheriffdom of Tayside Central and Fife. The funding was 
announced by Melanie Johnson MP, the new Minister for Competition, 
Consumer Affairs and Markets at the annual Conference of the Trading
Standards Institute, this year held in Cardiff. 

Speaking from the Conference SCOTSS Chairman Neil Edwards said: 'Stop 
Now Orders are an important and innovative enforcement tool in the fight
against rogue traders, letting authorities take immediate action where 
the collective interests of consumers are under threat. 

' I hope this pilot project in Tayside Central and Fife will be able to 
develop expertise and best practice in this area which can be passed on 
to other Scottish local authorities. Training for officers and 
co-ordinating action on Stop Now Interdicts will be crucial to their success.' 


Notes to Editors 

* Neil Edwards is Chief Trading Standards Officer for Fife Council. 

* The Trading Standards Conference has been organised annually for 107 years.