The vital clauses of the new Block Exemption Regulation EU 416,2010, which protect independent aftermarket businesses, will be enforced according to the new Minister of State for Business and Innovation, Mark Prisk MP.

Replying to IAAF Director Brian Spratt, who had written to both him and to Business Secretary Vince Cable, Prisk gave his assurance that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) will continue to take seriously any infringement of competition rules, including the revised Motor Vehicle Block Exemption; and he has passed his comments to the OFT.

Mr. Prisk also gave his assurance that the government would not be introducing a further vehicle scrappage scheme.

“These are welcome comments from the Minister,” said Brian Spratt. “We in the IAAF are obviously determined to use the new regulation in a proactive way to promote and protect our members, both in parts businesses and garages.  In this way we can give consumers the very best competitive package for servicing and repairing their cars.  We were also worried that Vehicle Assemblers, suffering from ‘post-scrappage blues’ would be urging the new government to introduce another scrappage scheme; so Mark Prisk’s comments are very reassuring.”