§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if the undertakings and conditions he has proposed in relation to the British Airways/American Airlines alliance are subject to amendment; and if he will consult on them with(a) the public and (b) interested parties. [9420]
Mr. John M. TaylorMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced on 6 December that the parties to this alliance would have to agree to certain undertakings and conditions if they were to avoid a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. In asking the Director General of Fair Trading to negotiate these undertakings he explicitly invited all interested third parties to make known their views on the proposals. Representations should be made to the Office of Fair Trading by 5 pm on 10 January 1997.