§ 20. Mr. Allaunasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that on 10th April representatives of the Tobacco Trade Association for the second time threatened a shopkeeper, of Salford, that, if he did not cease selling certain brands of cigarettes, he would be placed on the stop list and prevented from 578 obtaining other brands of cigarettes; and if he will now refer the activities of this Association to the Monopolies Commission.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI have seen a Press report on this matter. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No, Sir," for the reason given in my reply to the right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay), on 15th March.
§ Mr. AllaunIs the Minister aware that only this week the Tobacco Trade Association, the instrument of the Imperial Tobacco colossus, has announced that it will not end its ban?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftMutual restrictions of this kind on the sale of, or agreement not to sell, packets of tobacco or cigarettes containing gift coupons would be registrable under the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill, with which I hope, with the help of the House, we shall make good progress this afternoon.
§ Mr. JayIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the monopolists in this industry have plucked up courage since they have found that his Bill does not ban their activities by any definite date? Is he aware that retailers are being put out of business while the Bill goes through the House? Will he not include such agreements in the first group which he has undertaken to call up for registration immediately after the passage of the Bill?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftNobody on either side of the House has suggested that any practice of this kind should be banned without a hearing.
§ 21. Mr. Allaunasked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made to him by shopkeepers to refer to the Monopolies Commission the practice in the wholesale tobacco trade of placing shopkeepers on a stop list if they do not cease selling certain brands of cigarettes.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI have received no representations of the kind described by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. AllaunIs it not true that small shopkeepers and petrol pump and garage proprietors are being increasingly dominated by a handful of monopolists, and that the system which his party upholds is itself strangling free competition and the small man?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftAll that the Question asks is whether I have had representations about some practice in the tobacco trade. The answer is, "No, Sir".
§ Mr. JayCan the right hon. Gentleman at least say that this practice will be within the group which he will call up for early registration?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI do not propose to make an announcement about which practices will be registered first until I make the Order. That would be the appropriate time to do it.
Mr. VaneCan my right hon. Friend assure us that the Refreshment Department of the House will not be put on a stop list?