HC Deb 17 July 1956 vol 556 cc1026-7
32. Miss Bacon

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Mr. V. S. Whelan, a tobacconist, of Burnley Road, Leeds, is being coerced against his will to join the Tobacco Trade Association, because that association has notified the manufacturers of cigarettes who, in turn, are refusing to supply Mr. Whelan except at increased wholesale prices; and whether he will accordingly, as a result of this further case, reconsider his decision not to refer such matters to the Monopolies Commission.

Mr. Walker-Smith

I have seen a reference in the Press to this case. The kind of restrictive practice described would, under the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill, be a matter for the Restrictive Practices Court, and would not therefore be suitable for reference to the Monopolies Commission.

Miss Bacon

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that it is the opinion of many people that the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill will not deal effectively with such cases? Is it not scandalous that this kind of thing should be allowed to continue without any effective action being taken?

Mr. Walker-Smith

Perhaps the hon. Lady would be good enough to refresh her mind about the provisions of Clause 6(1) of the Bill, under which this type of agreement would probably be registered.

Mr. John Hall

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that many of us are against any form of coercion or compulsion designed to force a man to join a trade association or trade union against his will?

Mr. Jay

Does it not appear from these facts that the Tobacco Trade Association has not yet been deterred by the President's Bill? Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us how soon the Board of Trade will ask for the registration of the type of arrangement described in this Question?

Mr. Walker-Smith

In answer to the right hon. Gentleman's invitation, I gave the projected programme of registration during the Third Reading of the Bill, and that position I cannot take any further today.

Mr. Jay

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say how soon these particular arrangements will come under registration?

Mr. Walker-Smith

The whole process of registration, as the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate, will be concluded within a relatively short period from start to finish and, therefore, the precise position at which these agreements would be registered as opposed to any others would not be very material. The most important ones will be registered first, as I have observed before.