To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many complaints his Department has received of alleged price fixing by (a) the brewing industry and (b) companies which own public houses. (150720)

Ensuring that markets operate freely and fairly is a matter for the independent competition authorities, rather than for Government. The UK competition framework has established the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) as an independent statutory body which is responsible for ensuring that markets operate competitively, and it has the powers to investigate and take action if companies are abusing a dominant position in a market or behaving anti-competitively. Complaints would be directed to the OFT.

The Department currently handles around 50,000 letters a year and approximately 200,000 e-mails on a wide range of issues. Further breakdown in the form requested is not available.