§ 27. Mrs. Mannasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the protests of Scotland's 2,500 retail drapers against price-fixing in the drapery and fashion trades, which have been sent to him; if he is aware that agreements which will completely eliminate competition in the retail trade are being made; and if he will refer these practices to the Monopolies Commission.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI have noted these representations. It would, I think, be wise to await the Commission's Report on its existing inquiry under Section 15 of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act, 1948, which has a close bearing on these matters.
§ Mrs. MannIs the President aware that we have now reached the stage where to have a Question on the Order Paper to him indicates the triumph of hope over experience? Would he take a sniff of analgesia and try to give birth to an idea?
§ 31. Mr. Wilkinsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now say when the report of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission may be expected on the Cellophane paper manufacturing industry.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo reference on this matter has been made to the Commission.
§ Mr. WilkinsIs the President of the Board of Trade aware that it is a considerable time since I referred certain correspondence to him? Has he given consideration to the representations made therein? If so, is he not aware that it does appear that a price ring operates in this industry; and would that not be sufficient reason for referring it to the Commission?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftAs I understand it, Cellophane is a trade name, and one really cannot accuse of monopoly a man who is merely manufacturing a product under a trade name. If the hon. Member has any other information, I shall be happy to look into it.
§ Mr. WilkinsI have submitted the correspondence to the President of the Board of Trade through his Parliamentary Secretary, and I expected that he would have looked at that correspondence before answering my Question today.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI am anxious to help the hon. Member in any way I can. On the information at present at my disposal, I do not see that this can be a case for the Monopolies Commission, but if there is further information, I shall be happy to look into it.
§ 33. Mr. Wilkinsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now considered the terms of a resolution passed by Bristol City Council on 8th February, and submitted to him, protesting against the price maintenance activities of the petroleum and diesel oil industry in maintaining and increasing prices by collective action; and whether he will now refer this industry to the Restrictive Practices Commission for investigation as requested by the council.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI have noted the terms of the resolution, and, as I have already told the House, I will continue to bear in mind the supply of petroleum products as a possible matter for reference to the Commission.
§ Mr. WilkinsThe President of the Board of Trade recently answered questions on this subject, and said that he had the matter under consideration. May I ask him whether he has now concluded his consideration, and, in view of the very serious situation which has arisen in relation both to municipal and privately-owned public service undertakings, many of which have had to increase fares, will he come to some conclusion about referring this industry to the Commission? Further, has his attention been called to a statement by the Economic Commission for Europe on this subject?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftBoth the previous Government and this one have kept to what I think is a sensible rule, which is not to debate possible candidates for the Commission in advance of them being referred to it.