RETAIL PRICE FIXING IS TO END
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RETAIL price maintenance is to go. I la Mr. Edward Heath (Minister for Trade and Industry) told the Commons' on Wednesday that legislation would be introduced before the General Election to bring the practice to an end, although there would be a right to apply for exemption to a judicial tribunal.
The Government had concluded that price maintenance should be presumed to be against the public interest unless the contrary was proved to the satisfaction of a tribunal.
Mr. Heath also outlined new measures to make the Monopolies Commission larger and its proposals more effective.
Although the Government did not wish to obstruct mergers which were beneficial, it would take powers to ensure that recommendations from the Commission upon them could be implemented. It was also clear, said Mr. Heath, that the law on restrictive trade practices needed amending to deal with loopholes such as "information agreements" on prices.
In addition to goods, it was also proposed to make restrictive practices in the field of services capable of investigation by the Monopolies Commission.