§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the decision of the European Commission to clarify the role and activities of car intermediaries; and how his Department plans to monitor the activities of intermediaries to ensure that the Commission's regulations arc enforced.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe Government take the view that intermediaries should be free to operate within the EC car market. Intermediaries have a role to play in helping car buyers to obtain cars at the lowest price within the Community. Enforcement of European Commission regulations is a matter for the Commission. The EC Commission found that Peugeot had breached competition rules by upholding supply from Ecosystem. This case is now a subject of an appeal to the European Court of Justice.