§ 22. Mr. W. T. Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to implement the recommendations of the Lloyd Jacob Committee on Resale Price Maintenance.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 28th February to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Beswick).
§ Mr. WilliamsThat is not the Question which I asked. The hon. Member for Uxbridge asked what legislation the right hon. Gentleman was intending to produce, and I am asking the Minister if he intends to take any action in this matter. Perhaps he will tell us that?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe answer is, as the hon. Member knows, that the matter is extremely complex, and that it is still under consideration.
§ Sir T. MooreIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Trades Union Congress has come out in favour of price maintenance as a means of avoiding a price-cutting war, which would do harm both to shopkeepers and customers alike?
§ Mr. James HudsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this committee proposed both the re-institution of competition and the reduction of prices in retail trade, and will the right hon. Gentleman remember that, on both these matters, explicit promises were made at the General Election, or is it the case that all the promises have been forgotten?
§ Mr. Ian HarveyIs my right hon. Friend aware that his predecessor issued a White Paper on this subject, and that it is very desirable, from the point of view of the trade, that the attitude of the new Government should be made clear.
§ Mr. F. BeswickAlthough the President says that these are very complicated matters, is he not aware that his predecessor gave an undertaking that action would 1553 be taken, and, if that undertaking could be given then, why can it not be given now?