§ 38. Sir T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether, in view of the public interest shown in regard to his decision to abolish resale price maintenance, he will state how many representations have now been made to Her Majesty's Government supporting and opposing this decision, respectively.
§ Mr. HeathAbout 2,000 letters have been addressed to the Board of Trade or passed on by other Departments. The great majority were from traders and trade organisations expressing opposition to the Government's decision. Those from other members of the public were mainly in favour. The Consumer Council has also expressed its support for the abolition of resale price maintenance. I cannot make any estimate of the number of letters on this subject answered 1581 by other Departments, but I would not expect it to make any significant difference to the total I have given.
§ Sir T. MooreIs my right hon. Friend aware that he has not given me any real figures or total, but that the response which he has got from both trade organisations and the public differs strangely from my correspondence inasmuch as out of the scores of letters I have received on this subject not one has been in support of it?
§ Mr. HeathI am afraid that my hon. Friend's experience does not meet that of us at the Board of Trade or, I think, perhaps that of other hon. Members. The consumers have not made their views felt in the same way as some organised trade associations have done, and I must confess to my hon. Friend that the groups of letters which have been received at the Board of Trade often reveal a common inspiration.