§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria were used (a) in rejecting any developments on the proposed tunnel lid on the M11 link road at Leyton and Leytonstone and (b) in approving development on the tunnel lid on the Al at Hatfield; if he will now reconsider his decision in relation to the M11 project; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyNo local authority or developer has come forward with plans for the commercial exploitation of tunnel lids over the A12 Hackney Wick to M11 link road. At Hatfield the local authorities took the initiative at the outset in promoting the redevelopment of
638Wprovided him with information about the management buy-in of Simon Engineering plc by means of an offer by a new management and institutional consortium through Valuedale plc; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Howard[pursuant to his reply, 1 December 1986, c. 432]: The proposed management buy-in of Simon Engineering plc through Valuedale plc is being considered by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). A qualifying merger for the purposes of the Fair Trading Act 1973, must involve two or more enterprises ceasing to be distinct. I understand that, on the information currently available, the OFT considers that the proposal does not qualify for further investigation because Valuedale does not constitute an enterprise under the terms of the Act.