COMPETITION IN THE PERSONAL COMPUTER MARKET

Early day motion 630, tabled 11 April 2000 by Nick Palmer (Labour). Signed by 32 members.

That this House is concerned that a dominant market position is currently held by Dixons-owned stores in relation to the sale of home PCs, and believes that the 1999 Office of Fair Trading review of the home PC market was seriously flawed; furthermore believes that the existence of a single retailer with over 25 per cent. of the retail PC market (the Dixons group of stores) using exclusive supply arrangements with the major branded PC manufacturers such as Compaq may constitute a potential abuse of its dominant market position which could be said to be anti-competitive, restricts adequate consumer choice and inhibits the development of an inclusive society; and urges the Office of Fair Trading to re-open its inquiry and to publish the methodology and research it used to determine its 1999 decision.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 5.