Written question asked by Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 13 November 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 November 1997. It was answered by Nigel Griffiths (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 November 1997 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, on how many occasions mergers and acquisitions of (a) funeral directors, (b) crematoria and (c) funeral directors and crematoria have been referred to and investigated by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; in how many cases the Monopolies and Mergers Commission has recommended divestment; and if she will list the firms concerned.

Answer: Mr. Chidgey: To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions mergers and acquisitions of (a) funeral directors, (b) crematoria and (c) funeral directors and crematoria have been referred to and investigated by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; in how many cases the Monopolies and Mergers Commission has recommended divestment; and if she will list the firms concerned. [16703] Mr. Nigel Griffiths: Two mergers involving funeral directors have been referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC). The acquisition by The Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd. (CWS) of the Scottish funerals business of House of Fraser PLC was referred to the MMC on 4 June 1987. The MMC recommended divestment of four funeral undertaking businesses (in Aberdeen, Falkirk, Crieff and Perth) or divestment of all the businesses acquired from House of Fraser. The acquisition by Service Corporation International (SCI) of Planstbrook Group plc. was referred to the MMC on 20 December 1994. The MMC's report was published on 25 May 1995. The MMC recommended divestment of individual funeral directors' businesses in ten specified areas. No acquisitions of crematoria, or of funeral directors and crematoria, have been referred to the MMC.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 16703; 301 c191W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Consumers Funerals Protection Mergers Monopolies and Mergers Commission Service Corporation International Cooperative Wholesale Society Crematoriums