§ Mr. William Priceasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make a statement on the proposed take-over of Associated Electrical Industries by the General Electric Company;
(2) why he has decided not to refer the proposed take-over of Associated Electrical Industries by the General Electric Company to the Monopolies Commission.
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§ Mr. DarlingAs my right hon. Friend made clear in his public statement on 20th October, the Board of Trade considered this proposed merger in the light of their responsibilities under the Monopolies and Mergers Act, 1965. They concluded on the evidence available to them that the merger did not raise such questions of potential detriment to the public interest as would justify an investigation by the Monopolies Commission.
On one particular aspect of the proposal, concerning the supply of electric lamps, my right hon. Friend sought and obtained suitable assurances from G.E.C. to protect the public interest against any possible detriment.