asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the result of the consideration given by Her Majesty's Government to the decision of the Restrictive Practices Court that Richard Thomas and Baldwins have been guilty of price-fixing against the public interest, following their undertaking in 1959 as a member of the Galvanised Tank Manufacturers' Association not to engage in price-fixing

My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary and I have discussed this matter with the Chairman of the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency. We are satisfied that Richard Thomas and Baldwins have fully investigated the events leading up to the Court's decision and have taken steps designed to prevent further contraventions of the Restrictive Practices Act. At my right hon. Friend's request, Ministers responsible for other publicly owned industries have drawn the attention of these industries to the Restrictive Practices Court's judgment and warnings.