§ Mr. Coombsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to ascertain in how many cases in the past five years contested takeover bids have been preceded by management consultants having had access to information within the firm for which the bid has been made; and whether he will consider amending the Companies Acts so as to require disclosure of consultants' visits and their purpose.
§ Sir G. HoweIt would not be practicable to obtain such information and the information would not in any case be conclusive. I hope in the forthcoming Companies Bill to improve disclosure and to deal with insider dealings.