§ 18. Mr. Albuasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the growing concentration of the retail trade in furniture; and whether he will refer this matter to the Monopolies Commission.
Mr. H. WilsonI have no evidence that the conditions to which the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act applies prevail as respects the supply of furniture.
Mr. WilsonI should be glad to look at any evidence my hon. Friend produces though, of course, I cannot anticipate my future choice of references to the Commission.
§ Mr. NallyWhile it may be right that this matter has not yet reached the stage where it can, or ought, to be referred to the Monopolies Commission, would my right hon. Friend give an undertaking that he will keep a most careful eye upon the buying out activities which Great Universal Stores have been undertaking in the past few years?
Mr. WilsonI am keeping a very careful eye on the whole question of furniture supplies, though my powers to deal with the kind of thing referred to by my hon. Friend are very limited.