§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he proposes to refer the planned merger between Greenall Whitley Limited and James Shipstone Limited to the Monopolies Commission; and whether he applies different criteria when considering the possibility of a reference to the Commission to proposed mergers between brewers from those applied in other cases.
§ Mr. John FraserMy right hon. Friend will announce his decision as soon as possible. The principal criterion in all reference decisions is whether the merger raises sufficient issues of public interest to warrant a full investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.