§ Mr. Clemitsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade what arrangements exist for international co-operation with fellow member States of the European Economic Community and other countries in regard to the enforcement of anti-trust legislation against multinational companies.
§ Mr. John FraserI have been asked to reply.
The main arrangements are those established by recommendations adopted by the OECD Council in 1967 and 1973. These provide respectively for co-operation between member countries on restrictive business practices affecting international trade and for a consultation and conciliatory procedure in relation to such practices by both national and multinational companies. Within the EEC, representatives of the competition authorities of member States meet regularly within the framework of the Commission's advisory committee on restrictive practices and monopolies, which is consulted about the operation of the EEC's competition rules.