§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Minister for Trade how many reports have been published by the Office of Fair Trading under section 3(10) of the Competition Act 1980.
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§ Dr. VaughanFour.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Minister for Trade on how many occasions he has passed on to the Director of Fair Trading representations received alleging anticompetitive practice covered by section 3(1) of the Competition Act 1980.
§ Dr. VaughanNo separate record is kept of the number of representations received alleging anti-competitive practices within the meaning of section 2 of the Competition Act 1980. Those received by my Department are normally passed on to the Director General of Fair Trading or his officials.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Minister for Trade what has been the average length of time taken by the Director of Fair Trading to complete investigations under section 3 of the Competition Act 1980.
§ Dr. VaughanThe average length of time between the announcement of an investigation and publication of the Director General's report has been about 30 weeks.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Minister for Trade on how many occasions he has exercised his powers under section 3(5) of the Competition Act 1980.
§ Dr. VaughanI have never directed the Director General not to proceed with an investigation under section 3.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Minister for Trade how many representations from hon. Members he has received alleging anti-competitive practices defined under section 3(1) of the Competition Act 1980.
§ Dr. VaughanNo separate record is kept of representations relating to anti-competitive practices. I understand that many hon. Members write to the Director General direct.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Minister of Trade how many investigations have been instituted under section 3 of the Competition Act 1980; and, of these, how many have been related to newspapers.
§ Dr. VaughanNine investigations have been announced; two involve newspapers.