§ Mr. AllenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many occasions in the last year he has received a report from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and(a) agreed its recommendations and (b) deferred a decision.
§ Mr. EggarSince 1 November 1993, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has received808W 14 reports, including one not yet published, from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. Where adverse reports have been published, he has accepted the MMC's findings. In one case during this period—The Daily Mail and General Trust plc/T. Bailey Forman Ltd.—the MMC report has been published and the final decision deferred pending further consideration of possible remedies. Before that period, there have been other examples of consultation on possible remedies after publication, notably on the MMC reports on the supply of gas, and on the distribution of newspapers.