[diggers350] OFT threatens to act

[Jock Coats]

They'll accept unsolicited comments, suggestions and evidence till  
17th August.

OFT has always been there.  One of its outcomes used to be to refer  
an issue to the monopolies commission.  Now it's to the European  
competition commission.  So that's unlikely to happen since it's  
unlikely to uncover evidence of exclusion/cartel operation at a  
European level.

I wrote about it here:

http://www.1909.org.uk/could_oft_deliver_lvt (there's a link to the  
pdf with details of submissions)

Jock

On 25 Jun 2007, at 22:16, Simon Fairlie wrote:

> Yes, good idea. What's the time scale? can you keep me updated.
>
>
> By the way, excuse my ignorance, but is  OFT the  Office of Fair  
> Trade? Did that used to be the Monopolies Commission?
>
> thanks
>
> Simon
> On 22 Jun 2007, at 18:40, james armstrong wrote:
>
>>
>> OFT to investigate the giant housebuilders
>>
>> (Don't be too optimistic, they have already discounted prosecuting  
>> them)
>>
>> In 2004 the OFT were asked to investigate the monopoly of land as  
>> evidenced by the landbanks of the national housebuilders (details  
>> in the Barker Report) as causing the housing crisis. I got  
>> ridiculous answers.
>>
>> To-day John Fingleton the Director of OFT ,( BBC News Radio Four,  
>> 22nd June 2007 , also to-day's Times article) -announced the  
>> decision of the organisation to conduct a wide review of the  
>> housing supply system.
>>
>> I have prepared a draft submission as evidence to the new OFT  
>> enquiry fingering the national housebuilders and bulk landowners  
>> and suggesting various measures to remake the destroyed market for  
>> new houses including reform of the planning laws, promoting self  
>> build, prosecuting unlawful local land monopolies used against the  
>> public interest etc
>>
>> I suggest this is a good opportunity to put together a team to  
>> prepare a more professional submission, perhaps on behalf of  
>> Chapter Seven or TLIO,etc. ( My language needs modifying for a start)
>>
>> This should ideally include perhaps someone from Chapter Seven,  
>> RTPI, a surveyor , RIBA etc.
>>
>> The Housebuilders Federation have instantly got in their oar  
>> welcoming the enquiry and squealing that the difficulty is the  
>> delay in the planning process etc.
>>
>> Seperately I have posted the OFT announcement from to-days Times.
>>
>> Can I have reactions to this suggestions please?
>>
>> James
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> The next generation of Hotmail is here - Windows Live Hotmail
>>
>
>
> 

--
Jock Coats - Chair, Oxfordshire Community Land Trusts
c/o Warden's Flat 1e, J Block Morrell Hall, OXFORD, OX3 0FF
w: +44 (0)1865 483353 h: +44 (0)1865 485019
m: +44 (0)7769 695767 e: jock.coats at oclt.org.uk
www: http://www.oclt.org.uk/ - http://jockcoats.blogspot.com/