HC Deb 01 November 1990 vol 178 cc770-1W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average time which has elapsed between the receipt by his Department and the publication of a Monopolies and Mergers Commission report since 1979.

Mr. Redwood

We aim to publish reports of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission as soon as possible after receipt and generally within four to five weeks of their submission by the commission to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The time taken on individual reports varies in relation to the policy issues which arise, and the number of excisions which may be requested by the commercial parties from the published report. Statistics analysing the period since 1979 are not available.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any changes have been made to Monopolies and Mergers Commission reports between their receipt by his Department and publication.

Mr. Redwood

My right hon Friend the Secretary of State has powers to exclude certain material from a Monopolies and Mergers Commission report, as laid before Parliament and as published, under the provisions of section 83(3) and (3A) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 and under section 17(4) and (5) of the Competition Act 1980. He has no powers to edit or amend such a report. Notes in the text of the relevant reports indicate where such exclusions have been made.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the longest period and shortest period, respectively, which has elapsed between the receipt by his Department and the publication of a Monopolies and Mergers Commission report since 1979.

Mr. Redwood

We aim to publish reports of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission as soon as possible after receipt and generally within four to five weeks of their submission by the Commission to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The time taken on individual reports varies in relation to the policy issues which arise, and the number of excisions which may be requested by the commercial parties from the published report. Statistics analysing the period since 1979 are not available.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department was consulted by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on its report on the British Coal Corporation prior to its submission.

Mr. Redwood

The Monopolies and Mergers Commission did not consult the Department about the content of this report prior to submission to the Secretary of State.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the reasons for the delay between the submission of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the British Coal Corporation and its publication.

Mr. Redwood

Monopolies and Mergers Commission reports are published as promptly as possible but some delay inevitably arises, first from the process of publication itself and second from the statutory requirement for the Secretary of State to consider whether the publication of any matter in the report would be against the public interest.

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