§ 25 . Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, in view of the fact that the major oil companies are increasing their control of petrol retail outlets after exploiting the efforts and initiative of the private operative and owner, whether she will take steps designed to prevent these abuses.
Mr. Alan WilliamsI am aware that oil companies are tending increasingly to acquire petrol stations and to operate them under direct management. I understand that the Director General of Fair Trading is looking into the situation.
§ Mr. HamiltonHas my hon. Friend sent to the Director General the specific case I sent to the Department a few weeks ago of completely unscrupulous treatment by the Total Oil Company of people in my constituency?
Mr. WilliamsI shall be having further discussions with the Director General on this and other matters, and I will naturally bring the matter referred to by my hon. Friend to his attention.