HC Deb 09 November 1954 vol 532 c1042
46. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport

asked the Prime Minister what consideration the Government have given to setting up a Consumers' Welfare Ministry.

The Prime Minister

It is certainly one of the duties of the Government to promote the welfare of consumers—[Interruption]—I am on the side of the consumers—but I do not think that it is necessary or desirable to set up a special Ministry for this purpose.

Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport

Is my right hon. Friend aware that what consumers really require protection from are the nationalised industries? Can my right hon. Friend name one single nationalised industry which has not given either increased costs or bad service, or both, to the consumers?

The Prime Minister

I really am not very good at guessing on these matters.