Produce Liability (Hansard, 24 February 1989)

§ Mr. Gordon Brown
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the European Commission has approached the Government under article 169 of the Rome treaty regarding the implementation of the European Community directive on product liability.

§ Mr. Forth
There have been regular discussions with the European Commission at official level about the implementation of the EC directive on produce liability.
817W
The Commission also issued a press release in December 1988 announcing that a decision had been taken to start proceedings against 11 member states under article 169 of the treaty of Rome but as yet there has been no formal approach from the Commission.

£ million

NCC NACAB and SACAB NICCs¹

Year Cash 1987–88 prices Cash 1987–88 prices Cash 1987–88 prices

1978–79 0.627 1.287 1.276 2.617 1.939 3.979

1979–80 0.820 1.440 1.852 3.251 2.270 3.986

1980–81 0.999 1.481 4.018 5.956 3.021 4.478

1981–82 1.086 1.466 4.913 6.630 3.285 4.433

1982–83 1.199 1.510 5.533 6.970 3.602 4.537

1983–84 1.339 1.613 6.041 7.277 3.872 4.664

1984–85 1.423 1.631 7.094 8.134 3.879 4.448

1985–86 1.554 1.690 7.993 8.696 4.189 4.557

1986–87 1.733 1.824 8.604 9.058 ²3.789 ²3.989

1987–88 1.752 1.752 9.004 9.004 ²2.850 ²2.850

¹ The figures for Government grant in respect of the accommodation of the national industry consumer councils is not available and is notincluded here.

² Under the Gas Act 1986, the expenditure of the Gas Consumers Council has been met through the gas licence fee by grant-in-aid, so it isnot a charge to the Exchequer. The expenditure of the GCC is therefore excluded from 1 August 1986, but the cash amounts were: 1.8.86–31.3.87 £1.401 million, 1987–88 £2.620 million.

§ Mr. Gordon Brown
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the number of (a) citizens' advice bureaux and (b) consumer advice centres in 1978 and the latest available year.

§ Mr. Forth
No record is held centrally of the number of consumer advice centres. The number of citizens' advice bureaux in Great Britain in each of the financial years shown was as follows:

Year Number

1978–79 828

1979–80 818

1980–81 852

1981–82 880

1982–83 907

1983–84 939

1984–85 975

1985–86 952

1986–87 1,123

1987–88 1,210

§ Mr. Gordon Brown
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people sought the assistance of citizens' advice bureaux in each year since 1978.

§ Mr. Forth
No record is held of the number of people who sought the assistance of citizens' advice bureaux. However, the number of inquiries made to bureaux in Great Britain in each of the financial years shown was as follows:

Year Number millions

1978–79 3.536

1979–80 3.796

1980–81 4.284

1981–82 4.738

1982–83 5.268

1983–84 5.735

1984–85 6.100

1985–86 6.604

£ million
	NCC	NACAB and SACAB	NICCs¹
Year	Cash	1987–88 prices	Cash	1987–88 prices	Cash	1987–88 prices
1978–79	0.627	1.287	1.276	2.617	1.939	3.979
1979–80	0.820	1.440	1.852	3.251	2.270	3.986
1980–81	0.999	1.481	4.018	5.956	3.021	4.478
1981–82	1.086	1.466	4.913	6.630	3.285	4.433
1982–83	1.199	1.510	5.533	6.970	3.602	4.537
1983–84	1.339	1.613	6.041	7.277	3.872	4.664
1984–85	1.423	1.631	7.094	8.134	3.879	4.448
1985–86	1.554	1.690	7.993	8.696	4.189	4.557
1986–87	1.733	1.824	8.604	9.058	²3.789	²3.989
1987–88	1.752	1.752	9.004	9.004	²2.850	²2.850
¹ The figures for Government grant in respect of the accommodation of the national industry consumer councils is not available and is notincluded here.
² Under the Gas Act 1986, the expenditure of the Gas Consumers Council has been met through the gas licence fee by grant-in-aid, so it isnot a charge to the Exchequer. The expenditure of the GCC is therefore excluded from 1 August 1986, but the cash amounts were: 1.8.86–31.3.87 £1.401 million, 1987–88 £2.620 million.

Year	Number
1978–79	828
1979–80	818
1980–81	852
1981–82	880
1982–83	907
1983–84	939
1984–85	975
1985–86	952
1986–87	1,123
1987–88	1,210

Year	Number millions
1978–79	3.536
1979–80	3.796
1980–81	4.284
1981–82	4.738
1982–83	5.268
1983–84	5.735
1984–85	6.100
1985–86	6.604