§ 4. Mr. Holtasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what action he proposes to take to end the price leadership in the electric cables industry described in paragraph 541 of the Select Committee on the Nationalised Industries Report of May 1963 on the Electrical Supply Industry, in view of the fact that the system of common prices and allocation of orders operated by the manufacturers of low voltage cable was condemned by the Monopolies Commission in 1952.
§ Mr. HoltIs not that a rather extraordinary Answer? Is it not most important that any action which the Government take to ban practices which are considered restrictive should be effective enough to prevent the frustration of those purposes? So many of these things seem to be carried on in spite of the fact that the Government say that they should not be.
§ Mr. HeathThe Government have no power to prevent a firm from following another firm's prices. Indeed, simply to follow another firm's prices is not a restrictive agreement.
§ Mr. HoltMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in the legislation which is he proposing to bring before the House, he will take this aspect into consideration?
§ Mr. HeathI shall certainly consider what the hon. Gentleman said, but if a firm wants to follow the price of some other firm, I do not see how one can say that that is a restrictive agreement.