§ 8. Sir J. Barlowasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements regards himself as having no power to withdraw from the register agreements which have been abandoned whether before or after proceedings have been commenced in respect thereof; and whether he will introduce declaratory legislation to ensure that an agreement abandoned before proceedings are commenced in respect thereof may be dealt with under Section 12 of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1956, as being no longer an agreement of any substantial economic significance.
§ Mr. ErrollI am sure there can be no doubt that the Registrar's interpretation of his powers is correct. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No, Sir." The intention of the Act would not be met if agreements which had been abandoned were by that fact alone to fall within Section 12.