asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects to make a statement concerning the future of the regional consumer councils and the district consumer committees for the gas and electricity industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make a statement on the recommendation contained in the report "The Consumer and the Nationalised Industries" which sought to abolish the regional gas consumers councils: and if he will resist the suggestion that the consumer should be deprived of this localised service.

This question is being considered with the other recommendations in the National Consumer Council's report "Consumers and the Nationalised Industries", on which I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 25th October.—[Vol 918, c. 12–13.]