§ Q10. Mr. David Borrow (South Ribble)Has my right hon. Friend had an opportunity to read the report of the Trade and Industry Committee on car prices paid in the United Kingdom, which are excessive compared with those in the rest of the European Union? Will he assure me that he will take every opportunity to ensure that UK car purchasers will no longer be ripped off and that they will pay the same price as purchasers in the rest of the EU?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government welcome the Trade and Industry Committee's report. We are particularly interested in its proposals that would enable car buyers in this country to have access to lower prices such as those currently available on the continent. Under the new Competition Act 1998, there will be financial penalties of up to 10 per cent. of UK turnover for firms that infringe the prohibitions. I am confident that those new powers will be effective. I believe that, with the new powers in the Competition Act, we shall be able to take action in the interests of Britain's consumers.
§ Mr. Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon)Is the Prime Minister aware of the anger and dismay felt in Wales at the way in which he and his colleagues are trying to place a centralist straitjacket on almost every aspect of the National Assembly for Wales? If the membership, leadership and policies of the National Assembly are subject to a London veto, what on earth is the point of setting it up in the first place?
§ The Prime MinisterFirst of all, they are not. Secondly, the right hon. Gentleman has been campaigning for years and years for an Assembly in Wales. We give him an Assembly in Wales, and he still complains. It will be for the people of Wales to decide which party should run the Assembly in Wales. However, given the extra support that we are managing to give schools and hospitals and given what we can do for jobs and industry in Wales, I believe that the Welsh people will back us. It would be good once in a while to get a bit of gratitude from the right hon. Gentleman for having delivered what he has wanted for so very long.