§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will exercise his powers to hold up mergers currently 139W pending between publicity quoted clearing banks until such time as he has completed his review of the accounting exemptions enjoyed by them.
§ Mr. DarlingNo. The review of the accounting exemptions enjoyed by the clearing banks will not have been completed when I consider the Report by the Monopolies Commission on the Barclays/Lloyds merger in about six months time. Since I have decided not to refer to the Commission the mergers between the Westminster Bank and the National Provincial Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland and the National Commercial Bank of Scotland, I have no power to hold them up.