§ 17. Miss Burtonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the excessive profits being made by monopolistic practices on the part of car accessories manufacturers; and if he will refer the matter to the Monopolies Commission for investigation.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftWithout expressing any opinion on the allegations in the first part of the Question, I think that there is evidence that this matter comes within the scope of the Monopolies Act, and I will consider it when I next select matters to refer to the Commission.
§ Miss BurtonIn thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, might I ask him whether he is aware that sparking plugs costing 6d. each are sold to the motorist at 5s. to 5s. 6d. each and that on the sale of upper cylinder lubricants the dealers make a profit of 82 per cent.?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThose are, of course, the kind of matters which should be considered by the Commission.