Stores facing public release of complaints

FIRMS that have been reported to Trading Standards are to be named and shamed under new freedom of information rules.

The ruling means councils are now required by law to release information on complaints they have against local retailers if requested under the FOI scheme.

It follows a review by the Scottish Information Commissioner after the issue was raised by Nationalist MSP Christine Grahame. She was concerned that a number of local authorities said such information did not have to be disclosed.

She said: "Businesses with a strong customer focused ethos will have nothing to fear from this decision, and hopefully those with poorer track records in customer service will be forced to improve."