§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking in response to industry representations on Microsoft pricing policies. [10456]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonUnder UK competition law the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for investigating allegations of anti-competitive behaviour and possible abuses of a dominant position. He can act where pricing levels appear to be the result of anticompetitive behaviour but has no powers to act in relation to prices as such.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has advised IT industry representative bodies that if they have evidence of anti-competitive behaviour by Microsoft they should forward it to the Director General of Fair Trading.