HC Deb 08 December 1966 vol 737 cc1553-4
16. Mr. Michael Shaw

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to introduce legislation to amend the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1956.

Mr. Jay

There is no provision for this in the programme for the present Session.

Mr. Shaw

Does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that this is a question of priorities, and does he therefore agree that it is more important to nationalise steel than to make industry competitive?

Mr. Jay

There is a limit to the amount of legislation which can be carried through in one Session. I think that the Companies Bill was a priority for this, considering that we had the Monopolies and Mergers Act in the last Session, but the more expeditiously the Opposition conduct the Steel Bill debate, the more Bills we can introduce.

Sir J. Langford-Holt

Before the right hon. Gentleman considers any amendment of this Act, will he bear in mind that Government agencies are not even obeying the, Act as it is at present? If he wants evidence of that fact, will he look at my Question No. 71 today?

Mr. Jay

I shall certainly look at that Question with pleasure.

Mr. John Fraser

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, even as the legislation stands, it is impossible to get cut-price pop records, and that they carry a message in the centre to the effect that they are not to be sold below the list price?

Mr. Jay

I was not aware of that until this moment, but I take note of what my hon. Friend has said.