HC Deb 16 December 1974 vol 883 cc1101-2
11. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many local authorities now offer some form of consumer protection service to their own ratepayers.

Mr. Alan Williams

All local weights and measures authorities enforce a wide range of consumer protection legislation. There are now 46 local authority consumer advice centres and there are plans for others.

Mr. Hooley

Is my hon. Friend aware that consumer advice and protection at local level is extremely important? What sanctions are open to local authorities if they find that traders are offending against good practice in consumer matters?

Mr. Williams

I agree completely with my hon. Friend that it is absolutely essential to have effective consumer protection at local level. Indeed, that is where it becomes meaningful to the consumer. The question of sanctions depends on the nature of the practice. Generally the first line of action is to approach the local weights and measures or trading standards inspectors. They are able to take action if necessary. There is also the facility of being able to draw continued abuses to the attention of the Director General of Fair Trading, who can make recommendations to the Government, as he has done, concerning the introduction of orders to make certain activities illegal.

Mr. Michael Latham

Can the hon. Gentleman think of a better form of protection for ratepayers than for local authorities to hold down the level of their expenditure?

Mr. Williams

The hon. Gentleman must bear in mind, as all hon. Members must bear in mind at some time, that there is always a balance between how far we should hold down expenditure and how far we should cut back services. Holding down expenditure is not always the most advantageous course in the long run from the consumer's point of view. It is a delicate balance. We can leave it to the local authorities to do what they think appropriate with regard to consumer protection.

Mr. Ward

In view of the economic restraints preventing many authorities from progressing with their consumer advice centres as they would wish to do, does my hon. Friend agree that it is time to consult the local authority associations about how the practices of the best authorities can be disseminated among the other authorities and how greater cooperation can be arranged between adjoining authorities to make the most economic use of the existing facilities?

Mr. Williams

Certainly such a meeting would be helpful, and it is our intention to invite local authority representatives to discussions with us during the new year. We have already held one such meeting and we hope that we can have a further constructive exchange.

Mr. Ridley

Is the Minister aware that the Secretary of State for the Environment last Thursday from the Box adjured all local authorities to reduce expenditure and to economise in staff? As the Minister is now encouraging them to spend more on consumer protection, will he have a word with the Secretary of State for the Environment to see which of them will prevail in this internecine struggle?

Mr. Williams

There is no internecine struggle. Struggles between individual hon. Members seem to take place nowadays among Conservative Members. Consumer protection is covered in the rate support grant.