HC Deb 12 March 1986 vol 93 cc487-8W
20. Mr. Cash

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether reciprocity is a factor taken into account by the Director General for Fair Trading and the chairman of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in considering takeover bids for United Kingdom firms by foreign nationals.

Mr. Howard

If they consider reciprocity to be relevant to the question whether the particular merger may be expected to operate against the public interest they may take it into account in advising the Secretary of State.