§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers he has to prevent car manufacturers from refusing to supply right-hand drive vehicles to continental dealers for sale to United Kingdom customers. [81223]
§ Mr. ByersEC competition law provides that manufacturers must not restrict the freedom of their dealers to supply right-hand drive motor vehicles to UK customers.
Enforcement of these provisions is a matter for the European Commission. The seriousness with which the Commission views breaches of EC law was 205W demonstrated by its decision to fine Volkswagen £67 million in January 1998 for prohibiting its dealers in Italy from selling cars to foreign buyers.