HC Deb 08 December 1999 vol 340 cc566-7W
Mr. Ian Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the arrangements for notification and publication of the Government's response to interested parties on the Competition Commission's inquiry into the ice-cream industry; [100408]

(2) when his Department will publish its response to the Competition Commission's report into the ice-cream industry; [100409]

(3) what plans he has to shorten the consideration period for departmental responses to Competition Commission reports; [100410]

(4) how many representations his Department has received on the Competition Commission's inquiry into the ice-cream industry. [100407]

Mr. Byers

The Competition Commission report on impulse ice cream will be published as soon as practicable. The Department's normal administrative target for publication of monopoly reports is within 10 weeks of receipt of the report.

The Department has received a number of representations in connection with the Competition Commission's investigation of the impulse ice cream market. Those received before the report was delivered to me were forwarded to the Competition Commission. Those received after the report was delivered to me will be taken into account by me at the appropriate time as part of my consideration of the report.

Copies of the report will be laid before Parliament at the same time as it is published. Immediately after publication, interested parties who have requested it will be sent a copy of the Press Notice announcing my decision.

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