§ 58. Mr. Hamiltonasked the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to introduce legislation to make it obligatory on any organisation of manufacturers which regulates prices and conditions of sale of its commodities to publish its rulings fully and in detail.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Henry Strauss)My right hon. Friend will consider any recommendation which the Monopolies Commission may make in its report on certain restrictive practices; but he cannot anticipate the nature of future legislation.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs the Minister aware that that is precisely the answer which his right hon. Friend gave last week, and that it just is not good enough? Is he further aware that there is great public concern at the existence of these private courts, giving private rulings without anybody knowing anything about them? Is he further aware that the last Anglo-American productivity team recommended that this action should be taken by the Government? How do they square their present plea for competition with the existence of these price restrictions and controls and all the other restrictive practices which go with them?
§ Mr. StraussThe Question asked when the Government would introduce legislation. It is quite clear that no responsible Government would introduce legislation in ignorance of what the Commission will report on the reference now before it dealing with these restrictive practices.