§ Mr. Grimondasked the Minister for Trade if he will direct the Director General of Fair Trading to inquire into the level of the retail price of petrol on islands compared with that on the mainland.
§ Dr. VaughanVarious Scottish local authorities have made a number of representations to my Department and to the Office of Fair Trading about petrol prices on the islands. These have been studied, but I do not believe that a case has been established for directing the Director General to undertake an investigation. The Government have always made it clear that the power in section 13 of the Competition Act 1980 to direct the Director General to conduct investigations into prices would be used only in the most exceptional circumstances.