§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent, on agreeing to the merger of Hoverlloyd and Seaspeed arising from the report from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, he gave consideration to how this would affect prices, services and employment; and to what extent this merger will affect these last three points.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimThese matters were fully considered by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, whose responsibility it is under the Fair Trading Act 1973 to determine where the public interest lies. The Commission concluded that the merger would not be expected to operate against the public interest provided an undertaking on certain matters was given by the merged company. Unless the company refused to give such an undertaking my right hon. Friend would have no power under the Act to prevent the merger.