I wish to quote from paragraph 36, page 156, of the 1993 annual report of the Competition Authority:
In the view of the Authority the arrangements between Easons and Newspread which involved agreement on purchase prices for foreign exchange, an agreed addition for wholesaler margins and the same standard selling price to newsagents for each magazine, notwithstanding the fact that a small minority of newsagents could negotiate lower purchase prices, constituted the fixing of prices, a practice which is specifically mentioned as being prohibited under section 4(1).
Unfortunately that was no more than obiter dicta by the Competition Authority, as its attempt to make a finding was obstructed successfully at the time. However, this formula exists and if the Director of Consumer Affairs concludes as a result of the survey that it is leading to higher prices to consumers than ought to be the case then I will take whatever action is open to me and is necessary.