§ 22. Mr. Wadeasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now refer to the Monopolies Commission the subject of exclusive dealing in the distribution of petrol and garage accessories.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo, Sir.
§ Mr. WadeCan the Minister give any indication as to when a decision will be reached on the reference of this subject to the Monopolies Commission?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftNot at this moment. There are quite a lot of oil problems on our hands.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThat is a question for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.
§ 23. Mr. Wadeasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to implement the recommendations contained in the Report by the Monopolies Commission on the supply of linoleum.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe principal restrictive arrangements of the Linoleum Manufacturers' Association, as described in the Report, appear to come within the provisions of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1956, for registration and examination by the Restrictive Practices Court, and accordingly it is not for me to take action on the Commission's recommendations.
§ Mr. WadeCan the Minister give an assurance that reports on specific industries recently made by the Monopolies Commission, or about to be made, will not all be pigeon-holed merely because the Restrictive Trade Practices Act has been placed on the Statute Book?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI hope that that Act, which we all joined together in putting on the Statue Book, will provide a more expeditious and effective way of dealing with these matters.
§ Mr. JayAre not both those answers further examples of the interminable delays which characterise the Government's attitude on this whole business?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI feel that they are an example of the calm determination with which the Board of Trade has tackled these matters during my tenure of office.