HC Deb 29 February 1972 vol 832 cc84-5W
Mr. Ronald Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, having regard to the virtually complete control now exercised by brewers over the sales of wines and spirits in their tied licensed houses and the policy of Watney Mann to change from tenant control to manager control, he will refer the proposed takeover of International Distillers and Vintners Limited by Watney Mann to the Monopolies Commission to ascertain its effect on the public interest.

Mr. Ridley

On 24th January Watney Mann announced its desire to increase its 38 per cent. holding in International Distillers and Vintners Ltd. to 100 per cent. We announced on 17th February that we did not intend to refer this proposal to the Monopolies Commission. International Distillers and Vintners Ltd. have for some while been wholesale suppliers of wines and spirits to Watney Mann tied houses.