§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she is taking to monitor the electrical goods market to ensure that price fixing is not occurring. [51218]
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsUnder UK competition legislation the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for keeping the operation of markets under review, and considering allegations of anti-competitive behaviour, abuse of monopoly power or restrictive trade practices, including price fixing.
As part of his responsibilities, the Director General will keep under review compliance with the Order made by my right. hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 19 May 1998, following the 1997 Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of eight categories of domestic electrical goods. The Order prohibits suppliers of those goods from recommending retail prices to retailers, and from influencing the prices at which retailers sell their goods, and comes into force on 1 September 1998.