§ 14. Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received since he announced his review of merger policy on 5 July.
§ Mr. FletcherNone, Sir.
§ Mr. GouldWas not that scrappy statement, just over a page long, a pathetic outcome of what was supposed to be a major review? Was not the Financial Times of 10 July right to say that, in its aftermath, British competition policy remained arbitrary and inconsistent? Is it not about time that the Minister and the Secretary of State stopped using competition policy as a simple slogan and developed a coherent policy?
§ Mr. FletcherNo, Sir. No, Sir. No, Sir.