§ Mr. Hindasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the dealings in the shares of Pilkington plc on 14 January in advance of his announcement that the BTR bid would not be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
§ Mr. ChannonI understand that the stock exchange has been conducting a preliminary investigation into dealings in the shares of Pilkington on 14 January. Whilst inquiries are not yet complete, it has been established that the buying that day was widespread, chiefly by institutions overseas and in the United Kingdom. Nothing has yet been revealed which would suggest that dealings took place on the basis of leaking information. I understand that the stock exchange investigations are continuing and I expect that full results will be made available to me as soon as practicable.