HC Deb 05 July 1976 vol 914 cc954-6
16. Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many persons are now employed by her Department; and what is the latest estimate of the annual cost of her Department and the public bodies, boards and committees appointed by her.

Mr. John Fraser

My Department, including the Metrication Board, currently employs 382 staff. Estimated net costs in 1976–77 of running my Department and the associated bodies to which my right hon. Friend makes appointments total £13.9 million.

Mr. Taylor

Is the Minister aware that many people now think that the whole Department is an expensive washout? Does he think that many housewives would notice, or even care, if the Department disappeared tomorrow? Since the Chancellor is looking for cuts, will not the Minister and his colleagues volunteer to disband the Department?

Mr. Fraser

I do not accept any of the hon. Gentleman's comments. I believe that, if what he suggests were to take place, a great many housewives would lose their protection, and indeed a great many other people would be unprotected if our activities were to cease. I refer to areas such as consumer safety, credit protection, possible changes in the law on estate agents, trade descriptions and so on. I believe that the public obtain good value for their money from my Department.

Mr. Sainsbury

When considering value for money obtained by his Department, will the Minister agree that competition is the best form of assistance to housewives? If his Department would confine its activities to supervising the monopoly nationalised sector, would not his Department's costs be considerably reduced?

Mr. Fraser

The Price Commission probably saves more money in restraining prices in a month than my Department costs in a year. Secondly, I must emphasise that my Department is not unconcerned with the practices and prices of public corporations as well as of industry.

Mr. Adley

Is the Minister aware that the consumer protection Order which the Government are about to bring in and which was mercifully not moved in another place on Friday will have the effect of causing hire-purchase companies to think carefully and probably to withdraw the facilities which they currently offer to the public over a wide range of goods? Will he have a long, hard look at this and listen to the representations of the Finance Houses Association before bringing in the Order, which, quite unintentionally, could have a severe effect upon the buying public?

Mr. Fraser

I shall have a look at the Order, but I must tell the hon. Gentle- man that his interventions in this House would be rather more credible if he occasionally spoke up for the consumers' side of these matters as well as for the traders.

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