HL Deb 29 July 1965 vol 268 cc1435-7

3.16 p.m.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have yet reached a conclusion on the proposal of the Consumer Council to appoint regional officers to assist their work outside London, and if so what it is.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD RHODES)

My Lords, my right honourable friend the President of the Board of Trade has carefully considered this proposal and has come to the conclusion that, in present circumstances, it would not be right to approve this extension of the Council's activities.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for his Answer, and ask him, first of all, whether these present circumstances are likely to last for long? Is this proposal being turned down purely on financial grounds, or on the grounds of the proposal itself? I wonder whether the noble Lord could answer that question?

LORD RHODES

My Lords, yes, indeed. The Molony Committee envisaged the Consumer Council as a central body concerned with consumer interests at national level. The Committee saw no need for the Council to have local offices. The present arrangements have been in operation for slightly under two years, and we think it would be wrong to alter them radically now, before they have had an adequate opportunity to be tested.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that one of the drawbacks damaging the work of the Consumer Council is that it has not provided advice and guidance, through Citizens' Advice Bureaux to the consumer, as laid down in its terms of reference? Is he further aware that the establishment of regional offices, as at present envisaged by the Consumer Council, would not deal at all with this fundamental problem of advice and guidance through Citizens' Advice Bureaux, but merely extend the empire of the Council?

LORD RHODES

My Lords, the answer to the second part of the question was in my previous answer. I would agree that, although in this respect the Citizens' Advice Bureaux are being steadily strengthened with assistance from public funds, they are not complete or strong enough yet. But we are hopeful that they will be.

BARONESS ELLIOT OF HARWOOD

My Lords, does the noble Lord realise how difficult, if not impossible, it is to cover the whole country from a central office in London, and that in order to be of assistance with the education programme and with the protection of consumers throughout the country, it is really necessary to have more than simply one central body, from which you cannot operate throughout the entire country?

LORD RHODES

My right honourable friend appreciates that contacts with local bodies throughout the length and breadth of the country would be a very good thing, but he is not satisfied at the moment that the benefits would be entirely commensurate with the expense.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, may I ask this final question? In the debate we had on this matter the noble Lord was good enough to commend the idea that there was a great educational job to be done which the Consumer Council could do. Could he say whether the Citizens' Advice Bureaux are carrying out, or can continue to carry out, this aspect of their work outside London? Might it not be a good thing to allow at least one experimental appointment of an officer outside London to see what good could be done in the educational sphere, as well as in the sphere of direct contact with the consumer, to which the noble Baroness, Lady Burton of Coventry, referred?

LORD RHODES

My Lords, that is a constructive suggestion which I will carry back to my right honourable friend.

LORD AUCKLAND

My Lords, in view of the fact that London is to be largely decentralised and that a number of New Towns and L.C.C. estates are envisaged, would the noble Lord give further consideration to at least one of the New Town centres having the kind of set-up which my noble friend is suggesting?

LORD RHODES

My Lords, if the noble Lord can suggest which New Town, I will see that some inquiries are put in hand for the establishment of a citizens' advice bureau.

LORD AUCKLAND

Stevenage.

LORD RHODES

I thank the noble Lord.