§ Lord Lofthouse of Pontefractasked Her Majesty's Government:
Considering that Healthcall, one of the two contractors to the Department of Trade and Industry, was recently subject to acquisition by another Company, Nestor Healthcare Group plc, and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry decided not to refer that acquisition to the Office of Fair Trading, whether any audit was undertaken to establish that such acquisition would not prejudice or otherwise delay Healthcall's contractual obligations to the department. [HL1342]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleThe Secretary of State for Trade and Industry decided, on the information present before her at that time, not to refer the proposed acquisition by Nestor Healthcare Group plc of HCMS Limited (Healthcall) to the Competition Commission. This was in accordance with the recommendation of the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) on the case.
The effect of the acquisition on the execution of Healthcall's contract with the department was not considered as part of the DGFT's analysis, nor was it considered by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State in reaching her decision.