Citizens' Advice Bureaux

HC Deb 05 July 1972 vol 840 cc143-4W

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual cost to the central Government, in the latest year for which figures are available, of grants towards the maintenance of citizens' advice bureaux.

Mr. Graham Page

No Government grants are paid towards the general maintenance of local citizens' advice bureaux. An annual grant, which amounted to £78,000 in 1972–73 is paid to the National Council of Social Service with whom the citizens' advice bureaux movement is associated, for the central promotion of the extension of the consumer advisory service provided by the citizens' advice bureaux.

In addition a grant is paid to the National Council of Social Service towards its general expenditure, which includes the headquarters' costs of the National Citizens' Advice Bureaux Council. This grant, at 50 per cent. of approved expenditure, amounted to £156,000 in 1971–72.