HC Deb 11 April 1961 vol 638 cc19-20
34. Dr. Stross

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that when ready-mixed concrete is required in North Staffordshire, only one firm tenders; and, in view of this evidence of monopoly practice, if he will refer the matter to the Monopolies Commission.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Niall Macpherson)

On the information before him, my right hon. Friend sees no reason to believe that the absence of other tenders is due to anything more than normal commercial considerations on the part of other potential suppliers.

Dr. Stross

Is that not a very strange reply? It really is using the negative procedure. Does the hon. Gentleman accept that there should never be any competition in this field? Is he content that these firms should parcel out each territory like cock robins in a wood and that we should have to pay for it? How many local authorities have protested about this?

Mr. Macpherson

If the hon. Gentleman has any information that the territory has been parcelled out as he suggests, he should bring that to the attention of the Registrar of the Restrictive Practices Court. This is not a monopoly matter; there is no evidence of monopoly here.

Mrs. Slater

The Minister says there is no evidence of a monopoly, but is it not quite obvious that every local authority is held at the point of a pistol by the action of these concrete firms which put exactly the same price in their tenders? Is he not prepared to do something more about it in the interests of fairness and justice to every local authority?

Mr. Macpherson

If it is the case, as the hon. Lady says, that all the firms tender the same price and if that is the result of some agreement, that is a matter which should be brought to the attention of the Restrictive Practices Court. It is open to the hon. Lady to bring it to the attention of the Registrar.

Mr. Jay

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the cement industry has recently come before the Restrictive Practices Court and there is no denial whatever that there is a price ring?

Mr. Macpherson

There is no denial about the cement industry, but in this Question we are not dealing with the cement industry. It is dealt with in the next Question.