Animal Feedingstuffs Industry

HC Deb 17 April 1962 vol 658 c230

27. Mr. Darling

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will refer the animal feedingstuffs industry to the Monopolies Commission for examination.

Mr. N. Macpherson

My right hon. Friend will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind when he is considering new references to the Monopolies Commission.

Mr. Darling

As the Parliamentary Secretary has information about one of the firms in the industry which was thought to be independent and which has recently been revealed as a subsidiary of Unilever, could he find out from the Monopolies Commission whether Unilever has got any further holdings in firms which appear to be independent? If this were the case it would give Unilever a very large control of the whole industry.

Mr. Macpherson

The hon. Gentleman is in fact suggesting a reference—of a kind, at any rate—to the Monopolies Commission. All I can say at the moment is that this is kept under review and that the Commission has three matters to consider at the present time.