§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from private companies asking for further legal remedies to be 551W made available to them to safeguard themselves from predatory pricing and collusive behaviour; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FletcherI have received no recent representations of this nature. The Restrictive Trade Practices Act gives private companies remedies against collusive agreements that have not duly been furnished to the Office of Fair Trading. Specific instances of predatory pricing may be investigated under the Fair Trading Act 1973 or the Competition Act 1980 and, if found to be contrary to the public interest, may be prohibited.