§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what formal or informal representations he or any of his Ministerial colleagues or their predecessors received as from(a) any right hon. Member of hon. Member or (b) any other person regarding the Department of Trade and Industry inspectors' report on the takeover of the House of Fraser; what departmental record exists of such representations; and if they were reported to the Cabinet Secretary.
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§ Mr. HeseltineMy Department has received a very large number of representations concerning the takeover of House of Fraser and the DTI inspectors' report. It would not be possible to provide a complete record of these representations without incurring disproportionate cost. The hon. Member may recall that the matter was discussed in the House on 4 April 1989 and on 7 March 1990, and in another place on 3 April 1989, on 7 March 1990 and 28 March 1990. The matter was also referred to in the proceedings of the Select Committee on Trade and Industry. A number of hon. Members also asked questions on the subject. Such representations are not, as a general rule, reported to the Cabinet Secretary.