UK to probe parallel pricing

The chairman of the UK Trade and Industry Select Committee, Martin O'Neill MP, has promised further investigations into parallel pricing among European countries before the end of the parliamentary term.

Speaking at the launch of the Committee's report into differences in car prices between the UK and other European countries O'Neill said there will be an investigation into the issues raised by the report before the end of the Parliamentary session. He claimed it has implications for a wide range of other goods, including PCs.

A spokesman for the Committee confirmed the comments, but stressed it is a decision for the whole Committee, not just for the chairman.

A spokeswoman for Fujitsu said: "As a European manufacturer, the price differences in PCs between countries are very clear to us. We would favour and support anything that provides a level purchasing playing field throughout Europe." She added that the introduction of the euro is likely to accelerate this process.

A spokesman for Tesco, which is involved in a court fight over selling imported Levi's jeans, said: "We believe we should be allowed to import products from anywhere we like."