HC Deb 08 December 1954 vol 535 c56W
Mr. Shepherd

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about further references to the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

A new reference was made to the Commission on 4th December. The subject referred is the supply of electronic valves and cathode ray tubes. The full text is as follows:

Electronic Valves and Cathode Ray Tubes Whereas it appears to the Board of Trade that it is or may be the fact that conditions to which the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948, applies prevail as respects the supply of electronic valves and cathode ray tubes: Now therefore the Board in pursuance of Section 2 (1) of the said Act hereby refer to the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission for investigation and report the matter of such supply. The Commission shall as respects such supply investigate and report on

  1. (1) whether the conditions to which the Act applies in fact prevail and if so in what manner and to what extent;
  2. (2) the things which are done by the parties concerned as a result of or for the purpose of preserving those conditions; and
  3. (3) whether the conditions in question or all or any of the things done as aforesaid operate or may be expected to operate against the public interest.