§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many mergers were referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in each year from(a) 1974 to 1979 and (b) 1979 to 1988.
§ Mr. MaudeThe number of mergers referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for the years in question is as follows:
Year Number 1974–1979 1974 5 1975 5 1976 4 1977 8 1978 2 1979 2 1979–1988 1979 2 1980 5 1981 7 1982 9 1983 8 1984 4 1985 6 1986 13 1987 6 1988 3 These figures do not include references of mergers involving newspapers made under section 59 of the Fair Trading Act 1973.