HC Deb 21 June 1989 vol 155 c179W
73. Mr. Cox

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the percentage increase in mergers and acquisitions since 1979.

Mr. Maude

Expenditure on acquisitions and mergers by industrial and commercial companies within the United Kingdom in the 12 months to March 1989 is estimated to be about £191/2billion. In current prices this is about 12 times greater than the 1979 total of about£1¾billion.