§ 3. Mr. Ridleyasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the sale of pharmaceutical goods has been registered with the Registrar of Restrictive Trade Agreements.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Douglas Jay)On the assumption that the hon. Member is referring to registration under the Resale Prices Act, I understand from the Registrar that the answer is "Yes".
§ Mr. RidleyDo the Government intend to take any action to ask the Registrar not to investigate these goods, in view of the fact that they voted against their inclusion when the Resale Prices Act was being debated? How can the right hon. Gentleman square this with his attitude only a year and a half ago?
§ Mr. JayIf the hon. Gentleman has any familiarity with this Act, he will realise that the matter is now in the hands of the Registrar and the courts and that it is not for me to interfere.
§ Mr. RidleyBut could not the right hon. Gentleman stick to his convictions and introduce legislation to exempt them, if that was why he voted against their inclusion in the Act in the first instance?
§ Mr. JayI am bound by the Acts of Parliament as passed by this House and, under the existing legislation, this matter is now in the hands of the Registrar and the courts.