§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he plans to introduce reforms to the constitution of nationalised industries consumer councils.
§ Mr. FletcherIn 1982 my Department published a paper entitled "The Nationalised Industry Consumer Councils: A Strategy for Reform", outlining the Government's intentions for improvements in the structure and organisation of such councils. A number of the proposals in that document have already been implemented and action on others is in hand.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to require the nationalised industries to engage in consultation with the consumer councils covering their industries, as the councils demand.
§ Mr. FletcherThe nationalised industries do already consult their respective consumer councils on a range of issues. The consumer councils will be reviewing their consultative arrangements with their industries in agreeing the operating guidelines foreshadowed in paragraphs 19–20 of the "Strategy for Reform" paper.