§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the committee which the Lord Chancellor and he have appointed to consider trade practices which lead to the withholding from particular retail traders supplies of goods except on the conditions imposed by the suppliers have now started to hold their meetings; if so, what trade practices have been considered up to the present; and which practices it is proposed to investigate?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I understand that the evidence heard by the committee has been largely concerned with the practice of the enforcement by manufacturers of fixed or minimum retail prices, and with the so-called "distance limit policy" in the newspaper trade. As regards the last part of the question, I assume that the committee will investigate the trade practices falling within the scope of their reference so far as they may consider necessary, in order to carry out the task entrusted to them.