§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's monitoring of the developing structure of the beer industry consequent upon the implementation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission proposals.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe Director General of Fair Trading is monitoring compliance with the measures we have adopted following the MMC report on beer, and will be carrying out a review of their overall effectiveness after they have come fully into effect in November 1992. The director general will advise the Secretary of State if he thinks action is necessary to modify the orders before the review. In the meantime the Department maintains close contact with the Office of Fair Trading on issues that arise. The director general also has the responsibility of keeping himself informed about developments in this or any other sector which may give rise to merger situations qualifying for investigation by the MMC, and of making recommendations to the Secretary of State concerning any action that may be appropriate.