§ 36. Mr. Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list the companies that have been the subject of inquiry during the past six months by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, the Office of Fair Trading, and the Price Commission, respectively.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe following companies are, or have been, involved in merger investigations during the last six months:
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- The Fruehauf Corporation.
- Crane Fruehauf Ltd.
- Redfearn National Glass Ltd.
- Rheem International Ltd.
- The Rockware Group Ltd.
- United Glass Ltd.
- Bisgood, Bishop and Co. Ltd.
- Smith Bros. Ltd.
- Derritron Ltd.
- British Electronic Controls Ltd.
The following companies have been identified as holding monopoly positions in monopoly reports published during this period. I cannot anticipate which companies the Monopolies and Mergers Commission will investigate in carrying out references currently before it.
- Associated British Foods Ltd.
- Rank Hovis McDougall Ltd.
- Spillers Ltd.
- Pedigree Petfoods Ltd.
During the last six months investigations under the Price Commission Act have been as follows:
- The area electricity hoards in England and Wales.
- The Central Electricity Generating Board.
- Barclays Bank Ltd.
- Metal Box Co. Ltd.
- Fisons Ltd.
- United Glass Containers Ltd.
- Tate & Lyle Refineries Ltd.
- British Rail.
- Ever Ready Ltd.
- Cadbury Schweppes Foods Ltd.
- 14 enterprises or sole traders engaged in coal distribution in south-west Wales.
In the case of references and examinations made by the Price Commission at the instigation of the Secretary of State it is not practicable to identify individual companies as the subject of inquiry will be a sector of industry or of commerce.