§ Mr. Robert Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he is satisfied that provisions for confidentiality do not impede an exchange of information between anti-trust authorities of the European Economic Community and some third countries about the activities of multinational companies in the sphere of competition policy; and, if so, what action he intends to take in the near future.
§ Mr. John FraserThe competition laws of most developed countries, including the United Kingdom and the European Economic Community itself, contain provisions restraining the unauthorised disclosure to third parties of information which firms have supplied in confidence and often on a voluntary basis to competition authorities. Governments may also find it necessary to prevent disclosure of information about their companies' activities in order to protect legitimate national interests. The implications of this in relation to multinational companies are under discussion in OECD.