HC Deb 31 July 1981 vol 9 cc628-9W
Mr. Greenway

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate as an anti-competitive practice the policy of the Lothian regional council of making disclosure of donations to political parties a condition of consideration of firms' tenders.

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

Section 3(1) of the Competition Act 1980 gives the Director General of Fair Trading discretion to initiate preliminary investigations into practices that may be anti-competitive. I understand he is considering two complaints about this matter in order to decide whether it would be appropriate to initiate a preliminary investigation.