asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the operation of a system of restrictive trade practices involving the import of timber by means of which the Timber Trade Federation of the United Kingdom controls the import and export of timber in association with similar bodies in other European countries and thereby drives up the price of timber; and if he will have the whole situation regarding the importation and pricing of timber investigated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imported Timber.
51.
The question of restrictive trade practices in relation to the supply of timber was investigated in detail by the Fair Trade Commission in the course of a public inquiry held in 1953 and 1954 into the supply and distribution of building materials and components. Following the report of the Inquiry, the Minister for Industry and Commerce made an Order entitled the Restrictive Trade Practices (Building Materials) Order, 1955, which came into force on 26th April, 1956. This Order prohibits restrictions on entry to the trade, resale price maintenance and collective price fixing in relation to building materials, including timber.
I have no evidence that the terms of the Order are not being adhered to or that restrictive trade practices on the part of the Timber Trade Federation of the United Kingdom or other trade associations are leading to an undue increase in the price of timber. If the Deputy is in a position to furnish any such evidence to me, I shall have the matter fully investigated.
I have no intention of doing that. Could the Minister not make an inquiry himself?
As I said, I shall seek to discover this, but, if the Deputy has any information to which I have not got access, then he should make it available to me.
Has the Minister caused any investigations to be made to discover whether or not this Order is abided by?
Yes.
He just makes the Order and sits back.
It is the Deputy who is sitting back.
I am not going to do the Minister's job for him.
There is a powerful lot of irresponsibility around this House today.