§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will take steps designed to prevent a monopoly of oil-company-owned retail units being created and to protect privately-owned petrol stations from bankruptcy; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Alan WilliamsIn consultation with me the Director General of Fair Trading is urgently considering the form which a further reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission would take in respect of the involvement of oil companies in certain aspects of petrol retailing.