Plans to empower consumers without bringing in more legislation were outlined by the Government today.

“This is an important new initiative that will radically change how consumers relate to business,” said consumer minister Edward Davey as he unveiled “Better Choices, Better Deals: Consumers Powering Growth”.

Designed to support Chancellor George Osborne’s “plan for growth”, the strategy aims to put information and influence in the hands of consumers to help “secure a significant power shift to citizens and communities”.

The Government seeks to put in place “a wide range of new programmes that have been developed in partnership with businesses, consumer groups and regulators”.

Its aim, the Government said, is to stimulate debate and feedback on how consumers can empower themselves and others.

“By giving you more power in your relationship with businesses you will be better placed to get the deal you want, and that deal may put a bit of money back in your pocket,” Mr Davey said.

“This will in turn reward the most competitive and innovative businesses.”

The British Retail Consortium (BRC), of which electrical retailers’ association Retra is a board member, said the plan “must not put costly new obligations on retailers”.

Pointing out that retailers already had well-developed relationships of trust with their customers, BRC director of business and regulation Tom Ironside said: “A light-touch, non-regulatory approach is welcome but voluntary agreements or responsibility deals can end up imposing the same burdens as formal legislation. They must be used with care.”

He added that many issues covered by the report are regulated at European level and there is a need for consistency across the UK’s devolved nations.

“Retailers should not be faced with four different consumer rights regimes. Nor do customers want to be confused by differing rules,” he said.