HC Deb 04 May 1983 vol 42 cc217-8
4. Mr. Home Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what priority he gives to publicising the work of his Department and to improving the availability of information and advice from his Department to the general public.

Mr. Younger

I attach a high priority to informing the public of the facts regarding Government policy and am always ready to consider suggestions for improving this service.

Mr. Home Robertson

I am glad to hear that. Is the Secretary of State aware that the Minister for Consumer Affairs has caused considerable mischief and uncertainty among citizens advice bureaux recently? Citizens advice bureaux in Scotland deal with at least 120,000 inquiries from members of the public about functions which are the responsibility of the Scottish Office. Will the Secretary of State therefore take this opportunity to repudiate the threats and slurs that the Minister for Consumer Affairs, the hon. Members for Reading, South (Dr. Vaughan), has made against citizens advice bureaux? Does not this whole episode make a strong case for citizens advice bureaux in Scotland being funded through the Scottish Office rather than through the Department of Trade?

Mr. Younger

I do not think that any of those points arise out of this question, but I am glad to take the opportunity of applauding the excellent work done by the many citizens advice bureaux in Scotland.

Mr. Gordon Wilson

Are the citizens advice bureaux in Scotland to undergo a similar inquiry to that intended for England and Wales, given that a review was carried out, I understand, last year?

Mr. Younger

I am not aware that a review was carried out last year, but, of course, citizens advice bureaux in Scotland will benefit from the inquiry that is going on.

Mr. Henderson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of the matters with which his Department deals need much better publicity? Is he aware, for example, that many people think that there have been cuts in resources to the National Health Service, although under this Government resources have been increased? Does my right hon. Friend realise that many people do not know that there is a better pupil-teacher ratio than ever in our schools and that more money is spent per pupil? If it were not for the fact that I do not want to try your patience further, Mr. Speaker, I would ask my right hon. Friend whether many other things could be added to the list of items requiring more publicity.

Mr. Younger

I share my hon. Friend's great surprise that such obvious facts do not seem to be widely known — in particular, that there has been real growth in money for the NHS in the past four years. Not long ago a parliamentary candidate at a by-election was asked a question, to which he did not appear to know the answer, and he replied,"I am not sure of the answer to that, but it will be the Tory cuts." We do our best to put right such misinformation.