HC Deb 23 April 1959 vol 604 c587
34. Mr. B. Harrison

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many restrictive trading agreements have been dissolved before being called before the Restrictive Trade Practices Court.

Sir D. Eccles

Two hundred and five registered agreements have either been abandoned or all registrable restrictions have been removed from them. The Registrar has been informed that similar steps are being taken in respect of another 150.

Mr. Harrison

Does my right hon. Friend think that that is a reasonable figure? It seems a lot. Is he satisfied with that number as a result of the Court being set up?

Sir D. Eccles

It is a good start. It amounts to about one-sixth of the agreements on the register. If we can go on like that, it will not be bad.

Sir L. Ungoed-Thomas

How many of those agreements have been replaced by other restrictive agreements which are not caught by the Act?

Sir D. Eccles

I have no information that any have.