HC Deb 28 March 1961 vol 637 cc117-8W
60. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will issue a report indicating to what extent monopoly conditions have in-

— Minimum qualifying figure for Government contribution Applications Accepted
Woven Cloth Scheme (million linear yards) 534.5 560.820
Bleaching subsection (million linear yards) 68.2 75.85
Dyeing, Raising and Finishing (only) subsection (million linear yards) 284.2 382.999
Machine printing subsection (million linear yards) 88.8 101.97
Yarn Processing Scheme (million Imperial lbs.) 25.2 30.890

creased during the past five years in industries which have abandoned, or have been forced by the Restrictive Practices Court to abolish, restrictive practices; and whether he will now consider taking steps to prevent this tendency towards monopoly in industry in this country.

Mr. N. Macpherson

My right hon. Friend knows of no statistical information on which such a report could be based. While not accepting all the implications of the latter part of the Question, if mergers lead to increased efficiency, he considers that it would be contrary to the public interest to prevent them.