HC Deb 07 March 1996 vol 273 c334W
Sir John Stanley

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to enforce the statutory undertaking given to him by General Utilities not to enter into any arrangement with an associated person which may result in his joint holdings in Mid Kent Holdings plc exceeding 19.5 per cent. [19515]

Mr. John M. Taylor

Under section 88 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 the Director General of Fair Trading has a duty to give advice to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade if it appears to him that a statutory undertaking has not been or is not being fulfilled. He also has a duty to advise where it appears to him that a person can be released from an undertaking or that the undertaking needs to be varied or superseded. The President of the Board of Trade will wish to consider carefully any advice he may receive from the Director General of Fair Trading in relation to the statutory undertakings given by General Utilities plc in March 1991 concerning the acquisition of shares in Mid Kent Holdings plc.

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