§ 9. Mr. Iremongerasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the practice of manufacturers whereby retailers are offered financial inducements to stock the manufacturers' products in preference to those of their competitors, to the detriment of the public's range of choice and the operation of competition and the forces of demand; and if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to deal with this problem.
§ Mr. JayI am aware that some manufacturers promote sales by offering various inducements to retailers, but I have no evidence to suggest that this practice operates against the public interest; and I do not think that Government intervention is called for.
§ Mr. IremongerHow can the right hon. Gentleman pretend that this does not 1525 operate against the public interest? It is surely obvious. Competition is not between retailers who can give the best value for money but between retailers and manufacturers who can devise the most cunning and crude methods of sales techniques.
§ Mr. JayThe Molony Committee considered this and took a different view. I should hestitate to disagree with that Committee.