HC Deb 27 March 1975 vol 889 cc239-40W
Mr. Jim Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will initiate an investigation into the pricing policies of those retailers selling knitted goods imported from low-cost supplier countries in South-East Asia.

Mr. Maclennan:

Action is in hand through the EEC Commission to restrain imports of low-cost knitwear from the countries principally concerned. Once imported goods enter into the normal channels of distribution in the United Kingdom their distributors should observe the rules of the Price Code enforced by the Price Commission including the prescribed limits on gross and net margins over their business as a whole. I have

Mr. Alan Williams:

Investigation of restrictive agreements is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. The hon. Member will appreciate that restrictions imposed by the Japanese Government on exports of colour television sets from Japan do not fall within the scope of the restrictive practices legislation in this country.