HC Deb 19 December 1963 vol 686 cc257-8W
Mr. Shepherd

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he has yet received the report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply of wallpaper.

Mr. du Cann

Yes. I received the Report on 16th December. It will be laid before Parliament in due course.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development when the report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply of electrical equipment for mechanically propelled land vehicles will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. du Cann

The report is being published today. It covers the supply of eight separate classes of electrical equipment for motor vehicles, in respect of which a reference was made to the Monopolies Commission on 18th April, 1957;

  1. (i) batteries.
  2. (ii) ignition coils, magnetos, distributors, ignition suppressors.
  3. (iii) dynamos, current voltage control units, starter motors.
  4. (iv) windscreen-wiper motors.
  5. (v) air moving devices for heating or ventilating equipment.
  6. (vi) clocks, ammeters, equipment for indicating (whether by means of warning light, dial or otherwise) 258 ignition, water temperature, oil pressure or fuel level.
  7. (vii) headlamps, side lamps, stop lamps, tail-lamps, fog lamps, spot lamps, number plate illumination lamps, flasher indicator lamps, reversing lamps, horns, trafficators, relay units for lamps and horns, flasher units for indicator lamps or trafficators.
  8. (viii) sparking plugs, compressor ignition heater plugs.

The Commission found that the "conditions" as defined in the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948 (as amended) prevailed in each of the eight classes of goods referred. They also reached certain conclusions as to the effect on the public interest of these conditions and of certain things done by the suppliers concerned. I am studying the Report and the Commission's recommendations.

In accordance with the powers given to me under (a) of the proviso to Section 9 of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948, I have omitted from the Report as laid before Parliament certain details the publication of which would in my opinion be contrary to the public interest.