The House of Lords has agreed to hear an appeal against extradition to the US by Ian Norris, former Morgan Crucible chief executive, meaning that Britain's top court will rule on legal issues which have caused widespread concern in the business community.

These include the extent to which price-fixing amounted to a criminal offence – and so put alleged perpetrators at risk of extradition – before cartel activity was formally criminalised in the 2002 Enterprise Act.