§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will publish in the Official Report a list of towns in which (a) the Government have helped to set up a consumer advice centre and (b) the Government plan to set up a consumer advice centre, together with the dates when they opened or are projected to open.
§ Mr. MaclennanCentres opened under the Consumer Advice Grant Scheme are as follows:
805WCentres projected under the Consumer Advice Grant Scheme are as follows:
Centre Estimated opening date Swindon … … … … … … … … … November 1976 Chester … … … … … … … … … November 1976 North Strathclyde (M) Covering main areas of population not served by a consumer advice center November 1976 Glasgow area (M) Telford … … … … … … … … … December 1976 Hamilton … … … … … … … … … December 1976 Irvine … … … … … … … … … December 1976 Darlington … … … … … … … … … December 1976 St. Helens … … … … … … … … … January 1977 Birkenhead … … … … … … … … … January 1977 Thurrock … … … … … … … … … January 1977 Edinburgh … … … … … … … … … March 1977 Glasgow … … … … … … … … … March 1977 Stockton-on-Tees … … … … … … … … March 1977 (M) represents mobile consumer advice unit. A postal consumer advice and information service is to be set up in South Yorkshire in areas not served by a consumer advice centre.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what criteria are used by his Department in deciding where to open consumer advice centres.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe majority of consumer advice centres have been established and financed by local authorities. In selecting projects for Government assistance under the Consumer Advice Grant Scheme, account was taken of existing services in the area, the population to be served by the proposed project, and the need for a reasonable distribution of consumer advice facilities throughout Great Britain.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what facilities consumer advice centres have to handle inquiries or complaints about services provided by the gas ord electricity boards.
§ Mr. MaclennanConsumer advice centres are staffed by trained consumer advisers who are able to handle questions about services provided by the gas and electricity boards. Where appropriate, however, cases are referred to the relevant Gas Consumers' or Electricity Consultative Councils which specifically deal with consumer questions arising from the services provided by these industries.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what facilities consumer advice centres have to handle inquiries or complaints about Post Office services.
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§ Mr. MaclennanConsumer advice centres are staffed by trained consumer advisers who are able to deal with many questions about Post Office services. Where appropriate, however, inquiries are referred to the Post Office Users' National Council.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the population of the smallest town in which the Government have helped to set up a consumer advice centre or plans to set one up by the end of the year.
§ Mr. MaclennanLerwick, with a population of approximately 7,000, is the smallest town with a consumer advice centre which has received, or is due to receive, Government financial help. The Government have also helped finance a number of mobile consumer advice units serving sparsely populated rural areas.