§ 8. Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the total amount granted by his Department to local consumer protection departments in respect of local consumer advice centres and price information collection schemes since January 1976.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (Mr. Robert Maclennan)To date £531,422 has been paid towards consumer advice centres and £187,435 towards price surveys.
§ Mr. WainwrightIn the light of those figures and bearing in mind the local rates that have to be paid on local advice 1033 centres, may I ask the Minister when he intends to provide some protection for the consumer against the cost of consumer protection? Instead of providing these expensive staffs, will he harness the multitude of voluntary workers who have a dedicated interest in price checking, as well as great expertise and experience in watching prices?
§ Mr. MaclennanI am surprised that the Liberal Party should take such a line on the provision of consumer advice, because this is a matter of considerable and growing importance to a large number of people. It is particularly important at a time of inflation. The Government have every intention of continuing to support this most worthwhile scheme.
§ Mr. MacFarquharHas my hon. Friend given any instructions to such consumer advice centres about the information that they may provide to consumers concerning the extent to which they benefit in terms of food prices as a result of the subsidy given to this country by the Common Market?
§ Mr. MaclennanIf my hon. Friend is asking what is the value to the consumer of the green pound at present, I can tell him that it is worth six to seven percentage points on the food index.