§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will report progress on the rolling programme of references of nationalised industries to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission under section 11 of the Competition Act 1980.
§ Mr. FletcherDuring 1984, reports were published on London Transport bus maintenance, the South Wales Electricity Board and the Post Office letter post servise. I have received the commission's report on the Yorkshire water authority and the revenue collection systems of four area electricity boards. These will both be published in due course.
The commission is currently investigating British Rail property management.
I have concluded that, in the light of the Government's proposals for radical reform of the bus industry and the introduction of competition that will result, it would not be appropriate to make the reference of an aspect of public sector bus services in Scotland that was announced as part of this year's programme.
I have also decided, in view of the increase in the Post Office's work load caused by the current industrial dispute 502W at the Department of Health and Social Security, to defer into 1985 the reference of Post Office counter services that was planned for this year.
Our policy of subjecting the public sector to independent external scrutiny will be carried forward by a full programme of investigations in 1985. An aspect of the British Airports Authority will be referred early in 1985. This will be followed in the course of 1985 by references of aspects of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, the South of Scotland Electricity Board, the British Steel Corporation and the water industry as well as the postponed reference of Post Office counter services. Details of each reference will be announced as it is made.