§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will hold discussions with directors of the Rank Organisation on its plans to acquire MGM cinemas. [23607]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansNo. Any plans which the Rank Organisation or any other company might have to acquire MGM cinemas would be a matter for discussion with the Director General of Fair Trading, who has a duty under 517W the Fair Trading Act 1973 to advise my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on whether any qualifying mergers should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, what communication his Department has received from the Rank Organisation about its plans to acquire MGM cinemas. [23606]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansI am aware that the MGM cinemas business is for sale. Until such time as I am called on to announce my decision about whether any qualifying mergers arising from the sale should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, it would not be right for me to make any comment.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the ownership of cinemas in the United Kingdom. [23608]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansAny proposals for changes in the ownership of cinemas in the UK which would result in qualifying mergers under the Fair Trading Act 1973 would be matters on which the Director General of Fair Trading would advise my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade as to whether they should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.