HC Deb 02 February 1996 vol 270 cc956-7W
Mr. Pike

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bus company mergers or takeovers have been referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in each year since 1985. [123835]

Mr. John M. Taylor

The information requested is as follows:

Number
1985,1986,1987 none
1988 1
1989 none
1990 8
1991,1992 none
1993 1
1994 3
1995 4
1996 1none
1To 31 January.

Mr. Pike

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bus company mergers or takeovers his Department has been requested to refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in each year since 1985. [12864]

Mr. Taylor

Under merger control procedures, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade receives advice from the Director General of Fair Trading about whether specific mergers would be referred to the MMC. Since 1985, in all merger cases involving bus companies, where the DGFT has recommended reference, my right hon. Friend and his predecessors have accepted the advice of the DGFT to refer to the MMC. In addition, from time to time my right hon. Friend and the DGFT receive requests from third parties for specific mergers—including those involving bus companies—to be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. It is not possible to quantify those requests except at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Pike

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the proposed sale of Pendle borough council's 50 per cent. stake in Burnley and Pendle Transport to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement. [12837]

Mr. Taylor

In the event that such a merger were announced, it would be for the Director General of Fair Trading to consider the matter in the first instance. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade would then make his decision whether to refer the proposed merger to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission once he had the DGFT's advice.