To promote activities that will increase consumer protection, awareness and understanding, we need to understand the situation and perspective of consumers. To do this, the Panel commissions its own research, and uses the research of others to understand consumer behaviour and perceptions and identify its own priorities, as well as influencing the FSA's consumer priorities.

The Panel commissions its own consumer research on specific areas of interest, and also from time to time commissions other research work to be undertaken by specialists.