§ Mr. Barnettasked the Minister of Technology if he will set up a Departmental inquiry into the general problem of planned obsolescence in office machinery; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FowlerI assume that the expression "planned obsolescence" relates to an alleged practice by manufacturers of restricting the supply of spares in order to make office machines obsolescent before their time. I have no evidence of such a practice. If the hon. Member will send me more information, I will have the matter looked into.