§ Mr. CabornTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to meet representatives of(a) the Confederation of British Industry, (b) the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and (c) the Small Business Bureau to discuss bank mergers.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonThe President of the Board of Trade and I have no plans to meet representatives of these or other organisations to discuss the current merger proposals involving the Midland bank. In order to act in an evenhanded way, we are following the normal practice in merger situations of not receiving direct representations from interested parties but asking them to make their representations to the Director General of Fair Trading. The President of the Board of Trade will consider the proposals in the light of the advice he will receive from the director general which will take account of all the views and arguments that have been expressed.