§ 55. Mr. Holtasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet in a position to announce the result of his discussion with the trade concerning the implementation of the recommendations
20Wmy right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
The following are the figures:
of the Report of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission on the process of calico printing.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithYes. The House will be glad to know that the Federation of Calico Printers has agreed to the complete termination of the percentage quantum scheme, together with the obligation contained in it to observe minimum prices and uniform conditions of trading under sanctions.
The Federation has assured my right hon. Friend that it has no intention of resuscitating obligations or sanctions in respect of these matters under a fresh agreement.
As was envisaged in the Report of the Monopolies Commission, the Federation will remain free, if it so wishes, to have a list of recommended minimum prices and of recommended terms and conditions of trading, and a suggested scale of engraving rentals, all of which members could observe or not as they wished but which would not be enforceable by sanctions.
With regard to redundancy, my right hon. Friend has agreed that the Federation's existing scheme which ends in 1959 should be allowed to run its course. With this exception, the principal recommendations of the Monopolies Commission will thus be carried into effect and it will be unnecessary for my right hon. Friend to make an Order under the Monopolies Act, 1948.