§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the action which has been taken by Her Majesty's Government following the Monopolies Commission report on the supply of metal containers.
§ Mr. RidleyWhen this report was published my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Employment, informed the House that he accepted the report in principle and that discussions would be held on the implementation of the commission's recommendations. These discussions have now been completed and the three major companies in the industry, Metal Box, Reads and Crown Cork, have given certain undertakings in implementation of the commission's findings.
The undertakings cover the arrangements for the supply of closing machines to customers and of spares and service for the machines. They also cover discount and pricing arrangements and long-term agreements for open top cans and aerosols and certain other discount arrangements for aerosols.
I am arranging for a copy of the full text of the undertakings to be placed in the Library of the House.
I consider this a satisfactory outcome to the discussions and I am confident that these undertakings will bring about the improvement of competition in the industry which the commission sought.