§ Mr. Hordernasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what further responsibilities have been undertaken by the National Council of Social Service, involving how many more employees, in 1973–74 and 1975–76.
Mr. Alan WilliamsMy Department's grants to the National Council of Social Service are in respect of the activities of the National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux (NACAB).
The main further responsibility the NACAB has undertaken is the administration of the grant for the establishment of new citizens' advice bureaux and the improvement of existing ones, announced on 5th December 1973 by the then Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs—the right hon. and learned Member for Surrey, East (Sir G. Howe)—[Vol. 865, c. 407], 37 persons are at present employed with funds provided by this grant, which accounts for more than three-quarters of the increase in the grant to NACAB now administered by my Department between 1973–74 and 1975–76.
Apart from this, nine additional staff have been required to deal with the involvement of citizens' advice bureaux in other new Government initiatives, such as the Legal Advice and Assistance Act 1972 and the Fair Trading Act 1973.