HC Deb 18 March 1981 vol 1 cc95-6W
Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many inquiries are currently being undertaken by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and what these are.

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

The Monopolies and Mergers Commission has at present the following 11 references:

Monopolies

  • The supply in the United Kingdom of roadside advertising services (referred November 1978)
  • The supply in the United Kingdom of concrete roofing tiles (referred October 1979)
  • The supply in the United Kingdom of ready-mixed concrete (referred December 1979)
  • The wholesale supply of motor car parts in the United Kingdom (referred November 1980)
  • The supply of films to exhibitors for exhibition in cinemas in Great Britain (referred December 1980)

Mergers

  • The proposed merger between Lonrho Ltd. and House of Fraser Ltd. (referred February 1981)
  • The proposed merger between Enserch Corporation and Davy Corporation Ltd. (referred March 1981)
  • The proposed merger between European Ferries Ltd. and Sealink UK Ltd. (referred March 1981)
  • The proposed merger between Hoverlloyd Ltd. and British Rail Hovercraft Ltd. (referred March 1981)

General reference

  • Certain aspects of discounts to retailers (referred July 1977)

Reference under section 11 of the Competition Act 1980

  • Severn Trent Water Authority (referred October 1980)
  • In addition the following reports submitted by the Commission are awaiting publication:

Monopoly

  • The supply in the United Kingdom of trading check franchise and financial services (referred December 1977)

Merger

  • The proposed merger between S & W Berisford Ltd. and British Sugar Corporation Ltd. (referred June 1980)

General reference

  • The general effect on the public interest of full-line forcing and tie-in sales (referred April 1979)

Reference under section 11 of the Competition Act 1980

  • Central Electricity Generating Board (referred June 1980)

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many inquiries the Monopolies and Mergers Commission has undertaken since its institution; and how many actions have been taken to prevent mergers from taking place.

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

Since its establishment in 1948 the commission has undertaken 165 investigations, of which 89 have been monopoly investigations, one of which lapsed, 56 have been merger investigations, seven of which covered more than one merger, 10 have been newspaper transfer investigations, seven have been investigations under general references, and three have been investigations under section 11 of the Competition Act 1980. Eighteen merger references were laid aside.

Action has been taken to prevent mergers from taking place in 16 cases; and in one case the Secretary of State's consent to a newspaper transfer was withheld.