§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will require the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to report to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in connection with its investigation into the proposed acquisition of Scottish and Newcastle Breweries plc by Elders IXL, on the structure of the shareholdings in Elders IXL, an examination of the financial standing of Elders IXL and its major shareholders, an assessment of borrowings of Elders IXL, and the structure and financing of the proposed bid for Scottish and Newcastle Breweries plc; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will require the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to report to him on the resources to be deployed by Elders IXL in connection with its proposed offer to purchase Scottish and Newcastle Breweries plc; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaudeThe Monopolies and Mergers Commission is an independent body and it is for it to determine the direction of its investigation of a reference subject. Section 84(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 requires the commission to take into account all matters which appear to it in the particular circumstances to be relevant.