HC Deb 27 July 1983 vol 46 cc1167-8
1. Miss Boothroyd

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions he has made referrals to the Director General of Fair Trading in accordance with section 13 of the Competition Act.

The Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Alexander Fletcher)

Section 13 of the Competition Act 1980 has not yet been used.

Miss Boothroyd

Is the Minister aware that since his party assumed Government the price of petrol has been increased by £1 a gallon and that each year consumers are now paying £500 million in standing charges alone to the gas and electricity industries? Is he further aware that those matters are of great public concern? Why does he not act on behalf of the public and use the powers at his disposal by referring those massive price increases to the Director General of Fair Trading for investigation?

Mr. Fletcher

I do not think that there are any grounds for referral of the matters which the hon. Lady suggested, certainly not under section 13, which is held in reserve for specific cases of abuse.

Mr. Maples

While my hon. Friend is considering matters that have been referred to the Office of Fair Trading, will he consider the outstanding action against the Stock Exchange? Can he confirm that any settlement of that action will deal at least with the points raised by the Director General of Fair Trading over minimum commissions, broker-jobber relationships and membership restrictions? Can he confirm his Department's understanding that any settlement not dealing with those matters, while it might be popular with the stockbrokers, will not be popular with anyone else, including the great body of City opinion?

Mr. Fletcher

I understand my hon. Friend's interest in those matters, but I hope he will forgive me if I suggest that he waits until later, when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State hopes to make a statement.

Mr. Janner

Nevertheless, is it not right that there are two ways to kill off an organisation? One is by destroying its credibility by over-ruling its wishes, and the other, as in the Minister's answer to the question, is by not referring anything to it at all. Is it his intention to destroy the Office of Fair Trading? Is he proposing to close it down?

Mr. Fletcher

There is, no justification for the hon. and learned Gentleman's remarks.