Records of the Consumer Council

AJ

1963-1971

Records of the Consumer Council, appointed to safeguard consumer protection.

They comprise minutes of the Consumer Council in AJ 1, papers of the Consumer Council in AJ 2, and files of the Council in AJ 3

Annual reports of the Consumer Council are in AJ 6, other reports and publications are in AJ 7, field survey reports are in AJ 8, and press releases are in AJ 9

Minutes and papers of committee meetings are in AJ 5, and minutes of meetings with outside organisations are in AJ 4

Submissions of the Council by other bodies are in AJ 10

See also records of the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection: JF

Not Public Record(s)

English

10 series

Subject to 30 year closure unless otherwise stated

From 1971 Consumer Council

In 1959 the President of the Board of Trade appointed the Committee on Consumer Protection, chaired by Sir Joseph Molony, to report on merchandise and trade marks and upon desirable measures for improving protection of the public. Following recommendations in the committee's final report of July 1962 (Cmnd 1781), a Consumer Council was established in March 1963, as a non-statutory body appointed by the President of the Board of Trade.

The council's terms of reference, expressly based upon the Molony report, were 'to inform itself about the consumer's problems and about matters affecting his interests; to consider, after consultation where necessary with other affected interests, the action to be taken to deal with such problems, or to further or safeguard such interests, and to promote that action; to provide advice and guidance for the consumer, in particular through the citizens advice bureaux and other appropriate organisations, and by its own publications; to publish an annual report'.

It was not intended to handle comparative tests of specific products, to pursue individual complaints, or to take legal action. The council carried out its functions by promoting legislation, by direct approaches to suppliers, and by publicity of all kinds.

In 1970, the council's subsidy was cancelled and its last meeting was held in February 1971. In October 1974 a National Consumers' Council, virtually indistinguishable from its predecessor in constitution and function, was established under the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection.