§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what action his Department is taking in respect of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's investigation of the take-over of A1 Service by Stagecoach Holdings plc. [6487]
Mr. John M. Taylor[holding answer 28 November 1996]As I explained in my letter of 26 September 1996 to the hon. Member, the Office of Fair Trading is currently seeking from Stagecoach Holdings plc the undertakings which they were asked to give following the publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the acquisition by Stagecoach of Al Service in November 1995. The hon. Member is aware that the obtaining of undertakings from Stagecoach was delayed because of judicial review proceedings initiated by the company, which were concluded in June 1996 when the Court of Session in Edinburgh dismissed Stagecoach's petition.