§ 3. Mr. Jannerasked the President of the Board of Trade when the report of the Monopolies Commission on various restrictive practices under Section 15 of the Monopolies Act will be available.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dodds) on 24th March.
§ Mr. JannerAs there is considerable distress in the country because the cost of living is so high, why has the President of the Board of Trade not endeavoured to reduce that cost of living by getting the Monopolies Commission to work on these restrictive practices so that prices might be reduced?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI think that the hon. Member is anticipating a rather wider issue.
§ 4. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the President of the Board of Trade what further subjects for inquiry he has decided to refer to the Monopolies Commission.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI propose to follow the usual course of announcing the subjects for inquiry at the time the reference is made.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the President of the Board of Trade aware that his half-hearted, timorous approach towards monopolies is creating a most unfavourable impression? When is he going to get a move on in dealing with this very serious problem?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe Question merely asks when I shall announce the references, which will be at the time I make them.