§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the method of reimbursing local authorities for the services rendered by weights and measures inspectors and their staff in the implementation of the Counter-Inflation Act 1973.
§ Sir G. HoweI am still in correspondence with local authority associations76W about the reimbursement of additional expenditure incurred by weights and measures authorities attributable to the Counter-Inflation Act 1973.
§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further consideration he has given about leaving the executive function and control of weights and measures inspectors with local authorities following the Counter-Inflation Act 1973; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir G. HoweFollowing the assumption by the Price Commission of statutory responsibility for price control on 29th April, I am considering the position of weights and measures inspectors in this respect.
§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received, and from what bodies, concerning the rôle of weights and measures inspectors in the implementation of the Counter-Inflation Act 1973.
§ Sir G. HoweConsultations were held with the local authority associations and other interested parties before the arrangements were finalised. Some 15 local authorities wrote to me independently expressing reservations about the procedure, while accepting the need to provide a comprehensive and consistent source of advice and assistance to the consumer.