§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set up a study of on the road car prices of every make and model in the United Kingdom and, compared like with like, in each other EC country; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neil Hamilton[holding answer 18 June 1992]: Full and reliable international comparisons of car prices are complex and resource-intensive exercises. I am not convinced that there is a case for setting up further studies of car prices so soon after those recently undertaken by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and the European Commission which, between them, covered the ground in considerable detail. However, I welcome the indications 65W from United Kingdom car companies that they will cooperate with initiatives proposed by the EC Commission for greater transparency in their prices, to the benefit of consumers.