§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the outcome of the negotiations which he asked the Director General of Fair Trading to have with GEC on the proposed merger between GEC and Plessey.
§ Mr. MaudeMy right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State announced on 25 March this year that he had agreed to a variation of the undertakings given by GEC following publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the proposed merger between GEC and Plessey in August 1986. The variation is to allow the establishment of a joint venture company to handle the telecommunications interest of both companies. This decision was in accordance with the recommendation of the Director General of Fair Trading.