§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What response they expect from the Competition Commission to the current bids for the takeover of Safeway; and whether any action is being considered by the Department of Trade and Industry. [HL1413]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe Office of Fair Trading is currently investigating the bids for Safeway and will advise my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in due course whether these raise competition concerns meriting further in-depth investigation by the Competition Commission. My right honourable friend follows the advice of the Office of Fair Trading on whether to refer a merger to the Competition Commission, save in exceptional circumstances.