§ Dr. HowellsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 January,Official Report, column 641, what representations his Department received from parties to the proposed acquisition of Mid Kent Holdings by Companie Générale des Eaux and SAUR Water Services; in what form such representations were made; to whom they were made; and at what stage of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission investigation they were made. [15200]
Mr. John M. Taylor[holding answer 12 February 1997]: In this case, after the MMC had begun its inquiry into the proposed merger, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade was required under the provisions of the Water Industry Act 1991 to consider whether it appeared to him that it was or might be the fact that an actual merger had already taken place and hence whether the terms of the reference should be varied. In reaching his decision to vary the reference, which was 727W announced on 13 September 1996, my right hon. Friend considered the views of General Utilities, Mid Kent Holdings and SAUR Water Services.
In addition, the Department received various representations about the merger either directly from the companies or attached to correspondence from hon. Members or members of the public. It is not my right hon. Friend's policy to make public further details concerning an individual merger case once the report describing the results of the thorough inquiry conducted by the MMC has been published and my right hon. Friend's decision has been announced.