§ 24. Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to expedite decisions from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in cases where companies have been the subject of hostile takeover bids.
§ Mr. HowardCollecting and evaluating the evidence is a complex process and it is important that the Commission has sufficient time to do justice to all aspects of a case. I am encouraged, however, to see that the MMC has recently succeeded in shortening the time taken for some of its investigations. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State also considers whether there are circumstances in which the Commission might be asked to report in a shorter period. In the case of the Gulf Resources-IC Gas reference, the Commission was asked to report within five months.
§ 36. Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to complete his review of the method of referring matters to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
§ Mr. ChannonMy Department is still receiving evidence and it will be some time before the review is completed.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has decided to refer the manufacture of upper and lower limb prostheses in the United Kingdom to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardUnder the Fair Trading Act 1973, the Director General of Fair Trading is empowered to make monopoly references to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
If the hon. Gentleman has any evidence of behaviour which might justify investigation by the competition authorities, he may wish to furnish it to the Director General.