§ 64. Mr. Holtasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he is aware that concerted increases in prices throughout the British engineering industry are detrimental to the nation's economy and to the programme set out in the Queen's Speech; and if he will ensure that, in addition to the promised legislation on resale price maintenance, suitable legislation to make unwritten price agreements illegal is introduced before the General Election.
§ Mr. HeathNo.
Price agreements, written or unwritten, which are registrable under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1956, are not illegal but are within the jurisdiction of the Restrictive Practices Court. A White Paper to be published shortly will deal with the Government's conclusion that the Act requires amendment to deal more effectively with information agreements on prices.