§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the source of the recent representations he has received concerning the level of competition in the petrol retail industry.
§ Mr. Maude[holding answer 25 April 1989]: I have received representations both from hon. Members and from members of the public.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any plans to take steps to increase competition in the petrol retail industry.
§ Mr. Maude[holding answer 24 April 1989]: Under United Kingdom competition legislation, it falls to the Director General of Fair Trading to keep competition in the United Kingdom under review. The director general referred the wholesale supply of petrol to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on 9 November 1988. The commission is due to report to my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State by 8 November this year, and it would be inappropriate to comment on this matter in the meantime.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has concering the current average prices charged by the major petrol retailers in(a) Macclesfield, (b) the north-west region and (c) the United Kingdom as a whole for four-star petrols.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has concering the current prices being charged by the major petrol retailers for unleaded and leaded petrol.