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Mr. Fearn
To 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. Byers
EC 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 demonstrated by its decision to fine Volkswagen £67 million in January 1998 for prohibiting its dealers in Italy from selling cars to foreign buyers.