§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has had with the Office of Fair Trading with regard to the purchase of Coral by the Ladbroke Group. [24368]
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has had no discussions with the Office of Fair Trading concerning this merger.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what she expects the Office of Fair Trading to announce its decision on referral to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to Ladbroke Group with regard to their purchase of Coral. [24369]
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsIt is for the Director General of Fair Trading to advise my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on whether or not the merger should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. He will advise in time to allow a decision to be taken by the statutory deadline of 30 April 1998.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the purchase of Coral by the Ladbroke Group. [24370]
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will take a decision whether or not to refer the purchase of Coral by Ladbroke in the light of the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading.
467WMy right hon. Friend has stated that her general policy will be to consider each case of its merits and to refer mergers to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission primarily on competition grounds.