§ 2.50 p.m.
§ Lord NORTHFIELDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they propose to take on the recommendation from the Price Commission that competitive price display should be introduced in respect of spectacle frames.
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, the General Optical Council has been invited to give its views on the Price Commission's observation about the effect of publicity restrictions on competition within the ophthalmic industry. My right honourable friend is awaiting the Council's response before deciding whether further action is called for.
§ Lord NORTHFIELDMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether Her 1904 Majesty's Government are in favour of separating the professional task of prescribing lenses from the purely commercial task of selling spectacle frames, many of which are for cosmetic purposes? Is he aware that the spectacles I am wearing cost me eight dollars in the United States —that is £4—and would cost at least £20 in this country? Does not that give an indication of the extent of racketeering in this profession?
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, in its report on the Dolland and Aitchison group, the Price Commission suggested that that separation mentioned by the noble Lord was a matter which the ophthalmic industry should itself examine. Interested organisations were sent copies of the report, and they have now been asked for their views.
§ Lord NORTHFIELDMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether Her Majesty's Government at least have an opinion about this recommendation—that there is some force in recommending this separation of the two tasks of the optician—and would they not be prepared to urge the Optical Council to take a favourable view of the recommendation?
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, I would have no hesitation in saying that, when he sees them, it is the intention of my right honourable friend to urge the separation.
§ Lord CARR of HADLEYMy Lords, will the Government at least make it clear that they strongly believe that the encouragement of genuine competition is far more likely to keep down prices than the exercise of price control?
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, may I say to the noble Lord that I regard the power of the opticians to be able to put forward an order in council which prevents the display of prices in optical shops as something which is medieval and not in accordance with our time. May I remind the noble Lord that they have the power to do that under an Act of Parliament of 1958 when his party was in office. We see, therefore, that that was one of the sad things done during the 13 wasted years.
Earl FERRERSMy Lords, as the noble Lord's party opposite has been in power for 20 years, bar about four, why did they not put it right?
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, you cannot expect us, even in 20 years, to put right all the sins of the party opposite.