§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what steps she is taking to ensure that the local consumer advice centres now in operation, or soon to be opened, will be involved in carrying out the Government's prices policies.
Mr. Alan WilliamsLocal consumer advice centres are already involved in various aspects of the Government's prices policy. They refer appropriate problems to the Price Commission's regional offices, which are developing liaison with them. They work very closely with local authorities' weights and measures departments, which are responsible for enforcing orders under the Prices Act 1974. Many centres also collect and display information about local prices; this helps consumers and encourages local price competition.