§ 61. Mr. John Leeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many mergers of public companies have occurred during the current financial year; in how many cases have Government Departments acquired shares in the companies so merged; in how many cases have such share acquisitions given to the Government a controlling interest; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DiamondThe reply to the first part of the question is not available; but I understand that 23 proposals for large-scale mergers were considered by the Board of Trade in the first three months of the current financial year. Only one merger taking place in that period involved Government participation and no controlling interest was acquired.