§ Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list all Acts of Parliament for which his Department is responsible that require companies to disclose information, stating under each Act what information has to be disclosed, how, by when, and to whom.
§ Mr. HattersleyUnder the Price Commission Act 1977 there are powers to require disclosure to the Price Commission of information about prices and profits.
Under the Prices Act 1974, as amended by the Prices Act 1975, the keeping and, where appropriate, disclosure of information to duly authorised officers is required both by companies receiving subsidies, and by companies selling goods subject to price regulation orders.
Under the Fair Trading Act 1973, the Director General of Fair Trading may require various information for the purpose of deciding whether to make a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission may require information in connection with its investigations.
Under the Restrictive Practices Act 1976 the Director General of Fair Trading may require information in connection with the registration and judicial investigation of restrictive trade practices.