§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether he has made any order under section 2(3) of the Competition Act 1980 excluding from the provisions of the Act relating to anti-competitive practices the supply and distribution within the United Kingdom of goods which may be the subject of representations to the European Commission as having been imported at a price below economic cost;
(2) whether any reference to the Director General of Fair Trading has been made in respect of the supply and distribution of goods alleged to have been imported at a price below economic cost, or where such an allegation has been made the subject of representations to the European Commission; and whether any report to him by the Monopolies and, Mergers Commission has included any examination of such matters;
(3) what criteria he employs in deciding whether to make representations to the European Commission in respect of goods thought to have been imported at a price below economic cost.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimWhere there is an allegation that goods are being imported at below economic cost from countries outside the European Community the relevant criteria for making representations to the European Commission are set out in the Community's anti-dumping and countervailing legislation, which is based on the internationally agreed GATT codes. It is for the Commission to examine particular cases; and I have made no order under the Competition Act 1980 in relation to practices involving such goods, nor have I received any report from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission including an examination of trade in them. So far as I am aware, the Director General of Fair Trading has not had referred to him any questions involving such goods.