HC Deb 18 February 1964 vol 689 cc193-4W
Mr. Stainton

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what information he has obtained while preparing legislation on resale price maintenance regarding the number of organisations engaged in retailing, including the activities of their subsidiaries and associated companies, which it is estimated at the latest convenient date controlled totally one-third or more of consumer sales in England of, respectively, bakery products, other foodstuffs and groceries generally, beer, wines and spirits through retail shops, radios, television sets, washing machines and electrical domestic appliances generally, men's clothing, women's clothing, boots and shoes, furnishings of all types, pharmaceuticals and chemists' sundries, motor-car accessories and replacement parts, gramophone records, and books, periodicals and newspapers.

Mr. Heath

Information is available for Great Britain from the Censuses of Distribution for 1957 and 1961 about the numbers and sales of organisations and enterprises engaged in all kinds of business, including those selling the products named with the exception of motor car accessories and replacement parts. Information for the motor trades was collected for 1962.