HC Deb 27 March 1956 vol 550 cc1947-9
13. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is proposing to take with regard to the Report of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission on the supply and export of pneumatic tyres.

25. Mr. Jay

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action the Government proposes to take arising out of the Report of the Monopolies Commission on tyres.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Derek Walker-Smith)

None, Sir, for the present. As my right hon. Friend said during the Second Reading debate on the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill, we do not propose to make Governmental decisions on matters which are now to be made justiciable.

Mr. Fletcher

Does the Minister realise that this is a serious matter, and that the evil to which the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission has drawn attention is aggravated by the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill, because that will legalise individual resale price maintenance in circumstances where, in the case of tyres, it is equivalent to collective resale price maintenance, which is condemned by the Monopolies Commission?

Mr. Walker-Smith

The hon. Gentleman has singled out one only of the four main recommendations in the Report of the Monopolies Commission. The one to which he refers was in fact only a five-to-four decision of the Monopolies Commission.

Mr. Jay

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say how and when, under the procedure which he is proposing, any action will be taken about the tyre industry at all?

Mr. Walker-Smith

Yes, Sir. Of the four major recommendations to which I have referred, two are specifically provided for in Part II of the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill. My impression is that the other two will be registrable and so justiciable under Part I.

Mr. Jay

Can the Minister give any date by which any action will be taken?

Mr. Walker-Smith

A great deal sooner than the right hon. Gentleman himself prophesied during the Second Reading debate on the Bill.

17. Mr. Lewis

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission's Report on Radio Valves, Television Tubes and Electronic Equipment will be published; the cost of the inquiries so far; whether the Radio Wholesalers Federation were invited to give evidence; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Walker-Smith

My right hon. Friend expects to receive the Commission's Report in the second half of this year, and it will be published as soon as possible thereafter. It is not possible, without a disproportionate amount of work, to make an estimate of the costs of particular inquiries. It is at the discretion of the Commission from what bodies it invites and receives evidence.

Mr. Lewis

Can we have an assurance from the Minister that when this Report is in hand he will not say that the Government will not take action because the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill is pending? If there are some recommendations, will he assure us that the Government will at least give consideration to them, for action on them?

Mr. Walker-Smith

The hon. Member makes an assumption in that supplementary question. I said that we hope that the Report will be received in the second half of this year. The hon. Member should not assume that the Bill will still be pending at that time.