§ Mr. MacCormickasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what plans she has to set up a Prices and Consumer Protection office in Scotland.
Mr. Alan WilliamsNone. But I and my Department have close contacts with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and his officials, and with other organisations public and private, including the Scottish Consumer Council, on all matters of mutual interest affecting Scotland. Under the Consumer Advice Grant Scheme my Department has made grants available to set up a further nine consumer advice centres in Scotland. These will serve a total population of approximately 2 million, and will quadruple the number of Scottish centres.280W In addition, it is sponsoring price monitoring surveys in Scotland, 23 of which are already in operation out of a total of 168 presently operating in Great Britain.