HC Deb 26 March 1973 vol 853 c897
7. Mr. Robert Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he intends to take as a result of the recent report of the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements.

The Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Peter Emery)

I regard the registrar's latest report as a valuable account of his activities, but it does not call for specific action on my part.

Mr. Taylor

Is my hon. Friend taking any specific action as a result of the exposure by the registrar of Japanese trade associations' practices in this country? Although the registrar's report refers only to the activities of the Japanese Canned Food Trade Association, is it not obvious that other Japanese trade associations are continuing to subsidise exports in a similar manner, namely, by agreeing prices, paying export costs and dividing the market?

Mr. Emery

Any allegations of that sort are fully considered by my Department. If my hon. Friend has any more information other than that in the registrar's report, I should very much like to have it.