§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who has responsibility for ensuring that fairness and reasonableness pertain in the contractual relationship between oil suppliers and retailers in respect of non-competition issues. [122944]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 24 May 2000]: The general responsibility for all sale of goods legislation in the UK rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. In the event that a specific contractual dispute arises between an oil supplier and a retailer which relates to unfair or unreasonable terms, the matter would have to be resolved in a Court of Law.