§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the publications produced by her Department that refer people to the Citizens Advice Bureau Service for advice and assistance; and whether Citizens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to publication. [84155]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 2 December 2002]: The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Service in England and Wales, and in Scotland is a valuable source of independent advice and information on a wide range of issues that affect and concern the citizen. The very positive findings of the Quinquennial Review of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB) and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) which I announced on 23 July 2002, Official Report, column 943W, and 4 November 2002, Official Report, column 829 respectively confirmed and emphasised this point. Given the CAB Service's knowledge and expertise and the fact that it has a national network of advice centres, Government frequently mentions CABx as a further source of advice and information in its publications as well as in other media such as websites, press notices and in its replies to correspondence from a number of interested parties.
DTI and other Departments have a good working relationship with both NACAB and CAS. Regular meetings are held at both ministerial and official level to inform each other of developments and any other issues that might impact on the Service in both England and Wales and Scotland.