HC Deb 16 May 1995 vol 260 cc155-6W
Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what decisions the Office of Fair Trading has taken concerning the provision of misleading information to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission investigation into the supply of ice cream; [24438]

(2) if any criminal proceedings are either under consideration or pending under section 93B of the Fair Trading Act 1973 as a result of misleading information being provided to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission over the past three years; [24436]

(3) how many reports from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in the past three years are considered unsafe and have been or are being reconsidered by the Office of Fair Trading as a result of powers given to the Director General of Fair Trading by the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. [24437]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

No reports received from the MMC in the past three years have been considered unsafe. However, the Office of Fair Trading is currently pursuing inquiries concerning allegations that certain evidence presented to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission during its investigation into the supply in the UK of ice cream for immediate consumption was misleading. No decisions have yet been taken concerning any further action which might arise under section 93B of the Fair Trading Act. I am not aware of any other inquiries in connection with section 93B of the Act.