§ Mr. SteelTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received a report from the Office of Fair Trading on the Goodman Fielder Wattie bid for Ranks Hovis McDougall plc.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is yet in a position to say if he will refer the Ranks Hovis McDougall takeover bid by Goodman Fielder Wattie to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
§ Mr. MaudeMy right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State announced on 18 August that he had decided, in accordance with the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading, to refer the proposed acquisition by Goodman Fielder Wattie (GFW) for Ranks Hovis McDougall pic to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for further investigation. GFW subsequently abandoned its bid, and the reference has been laid aside.