§ 5. Mr. Shepherdasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer to the Restrictive Practices Court the charge of £2 for the green card levied in collusion by all the insurance companies in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. JayI assume that the hon. Member has in mind my powers to make references to the Monopolies Commission in respect of the supply of services. I shall bear his suggestion in mind in this connection.
§ Mr. ShepherdWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this green card was previously issued free, and then some gentlemen got together behind closed doors and decided that everyone should pay £2 for something which is a legal requirement? Is this not an urgent matter?
§ Mr. JayYes. I will certainly take note of that. But the restrictive practices legislation previously introduced refers only to goods, whereas our Monopolies Act of the past year includes services, and therefore, if anything has to be done, it will have to be done through these provisions.
§ Mr. Peter EmeryMay I press the President of the Board of Trade a little further on this? Does he realise that about 1¼ million people go abroad by car each year, which means that about ¾ million cars leave this country, requiring green cards? Does he realise that this is felt very strongly by the ordinary motorist, because different excuses are being given? Does the Minister realise that some of the excuses are clerical and some are administrative, from various Departments? This affects a lot of people——
§ Mr. SpeakerEven if it does affect a lot of people it must be put concisely.
§ Mr. EmeryWill the Minister, therefore, take any steps he considers necessary to rectify this position?