§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the implications for Government policy towards competition, regional development and regeneration of the inner cities of the decision by Unilever to merge Batchelors plc with Brooke Bond Oxo plc, and to relocate Batchelors headquarters from Sheffield to Croydon; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 30 November 1987]: I am aware of the decision of these two Unilever subsidiary companies to merge, to strengthen their future competitive position and help improve the security of some 4,500 employees countrywide. The choice of location for the joint head office is one for management. I understand that Batchelors Foods has announced that there will be no enforced redundancies before next October, opportunities will be available in the merged business for employees affected by the move, and external counselling will be provided to help find suitable alternative employment in cases of redundancy.
Any consideration of this merger under competition legislation would be a matter in the first place for the Director General of Fair Trading.