Monopolies Commission (Hansard, 18 February 1965)

§ Mr. Floud
asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the numbers of staff of the Monopolies Commission in each year since its inception;
(2) if he will list, for each year since the inception of the Monopolies Commission, the number of references made 255W to the Commission and the number of reports produced by the Commission.

MONOPOLIES COMMISSION

— 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956‡

Number of staff at 31st December^* 37 61 55 54 85 102 100 38

Number of references made to the Commission 6 2 2 3 4 4 6 2

Number of reports produced by the Commission † — 1 2 4 2 1 5 7

— 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964

Number of staff at 31st December^* 49 45 35 33 38 37 36 34

Number of references made to the Commission 2 — — 1 1 — 2 1

Number of reports produced by the Commission † — 1 1 — 2 — 2 —

^* Does not include the Members of the Monopolies Commission.

† Relates to the year within which reports were received by the Board of Trade and not, necessarily, the year in which the reports were published.

‡ Following the introduction of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956 the functions of the Monopolies Commission were considerably modified. As a consequence of the 1956 Act four of the references noted as being made to the Commission in 1955 were allowed to lapse.

§ Mr. Floud
asked the President of the Board of Trade what references are now under investigation by the Monopolies Commission; when these references were made; and when he expects to receive reports thereon.

§ Mr. Darling
The references currently before the Monopolies Commission are as follows:

the distribution of petrol for retail sale ("solus sites"), referred on 27th September 1960;

the supply and processing of colour film, referred on 14th May 1963;

the supply of household detergents, referred on 14th May 1963;

the supply of films to exhibitors for exhibition in cinemas, referred on 24th September 1964.

I understand that the Monopolies Commission hope to present their Report on the first of these investigations within the next month or two. It is not possible to give a date for the other Reports.

§ Mr. Floud
asked the President of the Board of Trade how many suggestions and requests, not being suggestions or requests which appear to him to be frivolous, have been made to his Department for the reference of particular matters to the Monopolies Commission; and how many, and which, of such sug-
256W

§ Mr. Darling:
The following is the information:
gestions or requests have been referred to the Monopolies Commission for investigation and report.

§ Mr. Darling
As regards the first part of the Question, the Board of Trade are required by Section 16 of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948 to include in their annual reports on the operation of that Act a review of the suggestions and requests (not being suggestions and requests which appear to the Board to be frivolous) which have been made to the Board for the reference of any particular matter to the Commission. The reports for the years 1949 to 1955 inclusive record 281 such suggestions, including many suggestions for the reference of collective arrangements of a sort which since 1956 have been registrable under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act and are no longer referable to the Monopolies Commission. The reports for the years 1956 to 1963 inclusive record 130 suggestions and there were 30 suggestions in 1964. The figures include suggestions which were recorded more than once.
As regards the second part of the question, it is not possible to give a precise figure. The majority of the 36 references made to the Monopolies Commission since its inception have reflected suggestions received, but the precise 257W scope of references may be wider or narrower than that of particular suggestions received.

MONOPOLIES COMMISSION
—	1949	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956‡
Number of staff at 31st December^*	37	61	55	54	85	102	100	38
Number of references made to the Commission	6	2	2	3	4	4	6	2
Number of reports produced by the Commission †	—	1	2	4	2	1	5	7
—	1957	1958	1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964
Number of staff at 31st December^*	49	45	35	33	38	37	36	34
Number of references made to the Commission	2	—	—	1	1	—	2	1
Number of reports produced by the Commission †	—	1	1	—	2	—	2	—
^* Does not include the Members of the Monopolies Commission.
† Relates to the year within which reports were received by the Board of Trade and not, necessarily, the year in which the reports were published.
‡ Following the introduction of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956 the functions of the Monopolies Commission were considerably modified. As a consequence of the 1956 Act four of the references noted as being made to the Commission in 1955 were allowed to lapse.