§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will invite the Office of Fair Trading to investigate Microsoft's proposed purchase of a stake in Telewest Communications. [116658]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 28 March 2000]: The size and European dimension of this case mean that it has fallen to the consideration of the EC competition authorities under the EC Merger Regulation (ECMR).
I understand that the European Commission announced on 22 March that it was opening a full investigation into this case and it now has four months within which to come to a final decision. Member states have a formal role in this process.