§ 41. Mr. Prenticeasked the President of the Board of Trade why his Department referred only two new matters to the Monopolies Commission in 1957 and referred nothing to it during the second half of the year; and whether he will make a statement of Government policy on the future employment of the Commission.
§ Mr. ErrollThe references made to the Commission in 1957 were those which in the Board's view were required by the public interest; the Board will continue this policy. With the passage of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act the scope for making such references has been reduced.
§ Mr. PrenticeWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that for many months raw material prices have been falling, without any corresponding benefit to the consumer? Is not this a situation in which attacks on monopolies should be stepped up and not slowed down?
§ Mr. ErrollWhile raw material prices have fallen, certain other costs have risen.