§ Mr. Rymanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the report of the Director General of Fair Tradig on the revised bid by Argyll for Distillers.
§ Mr. HowardI understand that the Office of Fair Trading considers that the increased offer for the Distillers Co. by the Argyll Group does not materially alter the circumstances on which my right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry made his decisions, announced on 9 January, not to refer the merger proposal to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
§ Mr. Rymanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the Director General of Fair Trading's report on the proposed takeover by Guinness of Distillers.
§ Mr. HowardThe director general's advice was not sent to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. I and my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Information Technology received his advice on the proposed takeover of Distillers on 12 February. My hon. Friend announced on 14 February that he had decided to refer the proposed acquisition by Guinness plc of Distillers to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for investigation. A copy of the Department's notice announcing that decision is available in the Library of the House.