§ 25. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many unregistered restrictive trade practices were detected by the Monopolies Commission in 1977; and what steps he is taking to make the law more effective.
§ Mr. John FraserNo unregistered restrictive trade agreements were actually detected by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in 1977 but in reports published during 1977 the Commisson referred to their earlier discovery of unregistered agreements in respect of bread and diazo copying materials. As a result of these discoveries the Director General of Fair Trading placed 77 agreements in respect of bread and 33 in respect of diazo copying materials on the public register. The Director General has recently discovered and registered 133 restrictive agreements covering ready-mixed concrete. I intend at the earliest opportunity to seek a strengthening of the Director General of Fair Trading's powers to6W investigate unregistered restrictive agreements.