§ Mr. Budgenasked the Minister for Trade when the Monopolies and Mergers Report on the supply of motor car parts is to be published; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. Vaughan[pursuant to the reply, 26 May 1982, c. 314–15]: I am now able to give the House further information pursuant to my statement on 26 May 1982, when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report was published. The Commission found that a complex monopoly involving 22 car manufacturers and importers who required persons to whom they supplied car parts to acquire those parts exclusively from them, of from sources approved by them, operated against the public interest. They recommended that the car manufacturers and importers should be required to remove such exclusively clauses from their franchise agreements.
The Government intend to act on the Commission's findings by means of an order under the Fair Trading Act 1973. Before making an order, my right hon. and noble Friend is required by the Act to give an opportunity for consultation. My Department has today published a notice 184W setting out the terms of the proposed order and inviting interested persons who wish to make representations to make them to my Department in writing before 14 July.