§ 11. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the medical products industry to the Monopolies Commission, in view of recent price increases of up to 30 per cent.
§ Mr. David PriceIf the hon. Member will say more precisely which products he has in mind, we shall consider the case for a reference to the Commission.
§ Mr. AllaunIs the hon. Gentleman aware that Glaxo and Unigate have raised their prices of baby milk food by 30 per cent. and that Boots, which made a profit of about £30 million last year before taxation, has raised the price of nearly all its products by 15 per cent.? Does the hon. Gentleman propose to do nothing about that?
§ Mr. PriceThe hon. Gentleman did not specify a particular product in his Question. He will realise that the phrase 11 on the Order Paper, "medical products", can cover everything from wheelchairs to new drugs, and that I therefore could not be more specific in my answer.
§ Mr. AllaunThe Minister should know that an hon. Member is not allowed to specify in that way. I was told so when I put down the Question.