§ Mr. CohenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps her Department has taken to establish the factors underlying differences in the retail price of identical models of new cars as between the United Kingdom and(a) other EU countries and (b) the USA; and if she will make a statement. [50857]
§ Mr. Nigel Griffiths[holding answer 16 July 1998]: Following an initiative by the Government at the meeting of the European Finance Ministers in March at York, the European Commission is carrying out an investigation in to prices disparities between different EU markets for a range of products and services, including cars. My Department is not currently undertaking a detailed investigation in relation to the USA.