HC Deb 19 November 2001 vol 375 cc5-6W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total costs were for operating(a) the National Consumer Council, and (b) the Scottish Consumer Council in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99 and (iv) 1999–2000. [15545]

Ms Hewitt

The total expenditure of the National Consumer Council was, in:

Year £ million
1996–97 3.306
1997–98 2.976
1998–99 3.029
1999–2000 3.29

This included the expenditure of the SCC which, for the same period, was:

Year £
1996–97 464,993
1997–98 601,168
1998–99 679,365
1999–2000 761,132

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the salaries are of(a) the chairman and members of the National Consumer Council, and (b) the chairman and members of the Scottish Consumer Council. [15546]

Ms Hewitt

The chairman and board of the NCC and the SCC are public appointees. The salary of the chairman of the NCC is £30,900 per annum and the salaries of the NCC members are £10,000 per annum. The salary of the chairman of the SCC is £15,450 per annum. The members are unpaid, but receive an attendance allowance of £87 per day.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the salaries are of the chief executive of the(a) National Consumer Council and (b) Scottish Consumer Council. [15547]

Ms Hewitt

The salary of the director or chief executive of the National Consumer Council is given in the annual report. It is currently set at £61,498 per annum. The director of the SCC is an employee of the NCC. The individual salaries of NCC employees are not in the public domain.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement about the role of the Scottish Consumer Council since 1999. [15630]

Ms Hewitt

The role of the Scottish Consumer Council (SCC) (an independent sub-committee of the National Consumer Council (NCC)) is to make all Scottish consumers matter by ensuring that all consumer interests, particularly those of disadvantaged groups, are heard by people who can make a difference in business, the public sector and in Government.