HL Deb 20 October 1988 vol 500 cc1352-3WA
Lord Morris

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are satisfied that the United Kingdom defence industries and suppliers will be able to obtain secure supplies of titanium, zircon and other strategic minerals if present British-controlled sources of supply of these minerals fall into foreign ownership.

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Lord Young of Graffham)

In accordance with normal merger control procedure, the Director General of Fair Trading is currently consulting with interested parties and will advise me whether the proposed takeover of Consolidated Gold Fields plc by Minorco SA should be referrred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. The director general will take all relevant factors into account: no doubt these will include those mentioned by the noble Lord.