§ 63. Mr. Floudasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, while the rulings of the Restrictive 248W Practices Court have eliminated some restrictive trading agreements, many formal agreements have been replaced by so-called information agreements not liable to registration under the Restrictive Practices Act, 1956; and what legislative action he proposes to take to ensure that the intentions of the Act are not circumvented in this way.
§ Mr. DarlingMy right hon. Friend is aware that agreements for the exchange of information may frustrate the objectives of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act. He intends to introduce legislation to deal with this loophole (and other matters), but it will not be possible to do so this Session.
§ 64. Mr. Floudasked the President of the Board of Trade how many restrictive trading agreements have been the subject of rulings by the Restrictive Practices Court since its inception; how many such agreements are now under consideration by the Court; and how many agreements are now registered with the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements in accordance with the Restrictive Practices Act, 1956.
§ Mr. DarlingI understand that at 31st December, 1964, the position was as follows: 138 cases had been disposed of by the Court; 97 other cases had been referred to the Court, and were in various stages of preparation; the register contained particulars of 2,505 agreements.