§ Dr. John Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will list in the Official Report the number of consumer advice centres in each region of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Alan WilliamsAccording to the latest information available to me, the48W numbers of consumer advice centres, including mobile units, in each region of the United Kingdom are as follows:
North 8 Yorkshire and Humberside 10 East Midlands 8 East Anglia — South East 19 South West 2 West Midlands 4 North West 10 Wales 4 Scotland 3 Northern Ireland — 68
§ Dr. John Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many of the existing 60 consumer advice centres are located in special development areas; how many of the proposed further 20 in 1975 will be so located; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Alan WilliamsIt has been for individual local authorities to decide how to provide consumer advice services. According to the latest information available to me, there are now 68 consumer advice centres, including mobile units. Of these, 14 are located in special development areas, or—in the case of mobile units—operate within those areas. None of those expected to open later this year is so located. But local authorities in the special development areas will be able to apply for Exchequer grants to establish new consumer advice centres under the scheme announced in the White Paper.