§ 9. Mr. Doddsasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the scope of the inquiry into practices in the retail trades which tend to keep goods dearer than they need be; when the investigation will commence; and how long it is contemplated it shall last.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftWithout expressing any views on the implications of the first part of the Question, I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the report required from the Monopolies Commission under Section 15 of the Monopolies Act. The full text of the requirement which is not confined to the retail trades, was set out in the answer given on 19th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. J. Rodgers).
The inquiry has already begun. In view of its wide scope, it is likely to take a considerable time.