§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the chief executive of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents; and what was discussed. [39088]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansI met Mr. Bob Frost, chief executive of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, on 13 July 1995.
Mr. Frost expressed the NFRN's concerns about recent developments, in particular: the recent increases in wholesaler's carriage charges; the changes being made in wholesale distribution areas; the decision by several publishers to reduce the newsagent's margin on retail sales; and the effect on newsagents of orders made against the NFRN under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976.
§ Mr. GriffithsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Office of Fair Trading's proposals which require that all retail newsagents supplied from the same distribution point must by October 1996 be charged the same rate for delivery. [39087]
§ Mr. EvansThe OFT has no such proposal. However, I agree with the OFT that high carriage charges should not be used as a means of deterring new entrants.
§ Mr. GriffithsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the recent increases in carriage charges on newspaper outlets. [39086]
§ Mr. PageIt appears that wholesalers have increased their charges to recover an increased element of the expenses associated with distribution and delivery. That is a matter for their commercial judgment.