§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will request the Director General of Fair Trading to refer the newspaper distribution system to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. [6402]
Mr. John M. TaylorIt is the long-standing and consistent policy of successive Secretaries of State that the making of monopoly references to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission is normally a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading in areas of economic activity within his jurisdiction. He has said that he is not persuaded that this is the best way forward for the industry, but that he is continuing to monitor the newspaper distribution industry and is open to further representations.