Letter: Effect of predatory pricing on business and consumers

Sir: You are not alone in your predicament. Many smaller firms are becoming aware that the condensation by takeover of medium-size to multinational businesses into vast units creates commercial warrens within which decisions on predatory pricing to damage or remove competition cannot be verified externally. Their financial clout means that even substantial competitors are unlikely to want to risk the costs of challenging them.

The future for UK small business, the creator of employment, will be bleak unless the City's and the Establishment's aptitude to see no evil is changed. While what leadership we have is distracted by overseas games (I do not refer to the World Cup) and their own party political positions, I am not hopeful.

Yours faithfully,

CHARLES PARDOE

Dean,

Hampshire

24 June