Tobacco and Cigarette Manufacturing (Monopolies Commission's Report)

HC Deb 07 March 1961 vol 636 cc236-7

19. Mr. Darling

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to publish the Monopolies Commission's Report on tobacco and cigarette manufacturing.

Mr. N. Macpherson

The Report is now being prepared for publication and my right hon. Friend hopes it will be published about the middle of this year.

Mr. Darling

Is it possible to speed up the work of the Monopolies Commission and the publication of its Report? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it seems that the Commission will take up to four years to complete its investigation and publish its Report? Is it lack of staff or an inability to get the panels together to complete the work? What is holding up the Commission's work.

Mr. Macpherson

The main consideration is the very great detail into which the Commission has to go. As for publication, the Report is lengthy and my right hon. Friend has a duty under Section 9 of the 1948 Act before publishing the Report to see whether anything should be taken out of it in the public interest. These are the reasons. I take note of what the hon. Gentleman said.