HC Deb 17 April 1978 vol 948 cc10-1
9. Mr. Durant

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will give the total number of complaints received by citizens' advice bureaux, consumer advice centres, the Office of Fair Trading and the Price Commission against the nationalised industries over the last year.

Mr. John Fraser

Of the four bodies named, only the Price Commission compiles statistics in a way that allows complaints against nationalised industries to be separately calculated. The Price Commission received a total of 429 written complaints about the Post Office, British Rail, and the electricity and gas industries in the year up to 31st March 1978.

Mr. Durant

Does the Minister agree that it is a pity that we do not have the other figures and that the conduct of the nationalised industries on price increases is appalling? Will he remind nationalised industries that their job is to think of consumers first? That is their prime need. Will he at the same time urgently look at the prices charged by the Thames Valley Water Authority, which have increased by 30 per cent. or 40 per cent. this year? This is affecting old people in particular.

Mr. Fraser

Price increases by the nationalised industries are subject to surveillance by the Price Commission in the same way as with any other enterprise. Indeed, there will be considerable periods during which prices will be frozen in some of those industries. As I understand it, as a fellow payer of water charges to the Thames Water Authority, what has caused the increase is a shifting of the sewerage and drainage charges from the local authority to the water authority.

Mr. Skinner

Will my hon. Friend confirm that much of the cost has resulted from the actions of the previous Tory Government in reorganising the water authorities, the local government services and so on? Will he take into account that in Derbyshire nobody can complain to the consumer advice centres because the Tories, who are now in control, have closed them all down, though they did not cost the ratepayers a single penny piece, and all these problems have to be brought to Parliament by me?

Mr. Fraser

I think it is the general opinion that the Conservative reorganisation of local government cost a lot of extra money. It is up to the Tory Party to explain now.

Mr. Neubert

Will the Minister add to the number of complaints received by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux one from me—on the refusal of its Press officer, Miss Murray, a member of the NUJ, to give information to a member of the Institute of Journalists? Will he consider withholding from the association the Department's £1 million grant until he receives an assurance that its publicly paid officials will give precedence to the public interest and not to personal prejudices?

Mr. Fraser

This is a question that is much better raised by prior notice, in fairness to the people involved.