§ Mr. McWalterTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what costs have been incurred by the Office of Fair Trading in preparation for legal proceedings in the Restrictive Practices Court to end resale price maintenance on over-the-counter medicines. [48239]
§ Mr. Nigel Griffiths[holding answer 3 July 1998]: The preparation for legal proceedings in the Restrictive Practices Court is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. I am asking him to write to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. McWalterTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what research she has evaluated into the comparative price of over-the-counter medicines in the United Kingdom relative to other EU countries; and if she will make a statement. [48232]
§ Mr. Nigel Griffiths[holding answer 1 July 1998]: The DTI has not carried out such research, since the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring the market where there are competition problems and for any studies of which result from this.
§ Mr. McWalterTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact of the loss of resale price maintenance on over the counter medicines on small businesses, with particular reference to pharmacies. [48213]
§ Mr. Nigel Griffiths[holding answer 30 June 1998]: The Director General of Fair Trading has published details in his January 1998 report "Material Changes in the Medicaments Markets since 1970", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.