HC Deb 17 April 1989 vol 151 c36W
Mr. Barry Field

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many anti-competitive practices have been referred to him under the Local Government Act 1988; how many involve the refusal of the use of an authority's depot; and how many times he has exercised his powers under the Act.

Mr. Gummer

[holding answer 13 April 1989]: The Department has received approximately 80 complaints about a wide range of alleged anti-competitive practices adopted by local authorities under the Local Government Act 1988. About half of these complaints concern the alleged refusal by authorities to make their depots available to contractors. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not yet exercised his sanction powers under part I of the 1988 Act, but a number of authorities have decided to modify their practice after approaches by the Department and other cases are not yet closed. Under similar new powers in section 19A of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, however, he has served a notice on one authority for alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the award of building and maintenance work.

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