§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about his consideration of the acquisition by Esso of the filling station interests of Agip.
§ Mr. JayYes. I have examined this acquisition under the provisions of the 127W Monopolies and Mergers Act, 1965, and in the light of the Monopolies Commission's report on the Supply of Petrol. Since, in accepting the Commission's recommendations, I have decided that there should be no interference with existing contracts for the purchase of filling stations or sites, I do not intend to refer this merger to the Monopolies Commission.