HC Deb 01 December 1949 vol 470 cc1307-8
32. Mr. Platts-Mills

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that builders' merchants who get their wallpaper supplies through the Wallpaper Manufacturers Association group of manufacturers are not allowed to buy ceiling papers outside that ring; that the effect of this restriction is to maintain the price of ceiling papers at an inflated level; and if he will take steps to put an end to this practice.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. John Edwards)

We have no evidence that builders' merchants who are customers of Wallpaper Manufacturers Limited for wallpaper are in any sense prohibited from buying ceiling papers from other firms; nor have we evidence that the prices charged by other firms for ceiling papers are generally lower than those of the Wallpaper Manufacturers Limited group. If the hon. Member can give us any evidence we will willingly consider it.

Mr. Platts-Mills

If I can produce a form of written agreement that the manufacturing group require their purchasers to enter into forbidding them to buy ceiling paper from other manufacturers, will my hon. Friend see that it is given proper publicity, and will he condemn the practice if it is of that nature?

Mr. Edwards

I have already said I am willing to consider any evidence which the hon. Gentleman will let me have.

Mr. Walter Fletcher

Is an inflated ceiling an occupational disease of the fellow travellers?