§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will publish in the Official Report as much detailed information as may be readily available, giving lists of foods and articles which have fallen in price due to the reduction in inflation to 7.4 per cent. in July 1978, as compared with similar figures during the past four years.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe reduction in the annual increase in the retail prices index to 7.4 per cent. in June 1978 reflects primarily a slackening in the average rate of increase in prices rather than any general marked reduction in price levels Of those items for which average retail prices are published each month in theDepartment of Employment Gazette, prices were lower in mid-June than in
778Wsumer advice centres and have not applied for Government grant aid:
- Highland regional council
- Tayside regional council
- Central regional council
- Borders regional council
- Dumfries and Galloway regional council
- Fife regional council.
§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the current total number of consumer advice centres in each Scottish local government region at the latest available date; and how this compares with each of the last eight years.
§ Mr. MaclennanThere are presently a total of 15 consumer advice centres in Scotland. Although a consumer advice service had been offered from some regional council premises before 1976, there were no consumer advice centres in Scotland before that date. Regional distribution for the three years in question is as follows:
mid-May for certain cuts of lamb, tomatoes, canned—red—salmon, standard quality margarine, eggs, coffee and tea.