§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how the proposed take-over of Manbre Sugars Ltd by Tate and Lyle Ltd. fails to meet the requirements of the Fair Trading Act 1973 for reference of the proposal to the Monopolies Commission.
§ Mr. John FraserThis merger met the criteria in the Fair Trading Act for reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, but the exercise of the power of reference is discretionary. No reference was made primarily because a unified cane sugar refining industry offers the best prospects of keeping the loss of jobs on rationalisation to a minimum, particularly in areas of high unemployment.