§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many consumer advice bureaux there are in Scotland; what Government financial assistance, if any, is given to them in their work; and if she has any information on the financial assistance given by local authorities in Scotland to them.
Mr. Alan WilliamsAccording to the latest information available to me, there are at present in Scotland three consumer advice centres and 39 citizens' advice bureaux. Consumer advice is also available from 38 local authority offices.
My Department makes available to the Scottish citizens' advice bureaux, through the Scottish Council for Social Services, an annual grant for headquarters administration and training. In 1974–75 this will amount to £20,945. In addition, my Department has made available a grant of £200,000 for the development of citzens' advice bureaux generally; the allocation of this to projects in Scotland has not yet been determined.
The Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 places a duty on Scottish local authorities to promote social welfare by making available advice, guidance and assistance on a scale appropriate for their area; information on the expenditure devoted under that head to consumer advice is not available centrally.