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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Dr. Howells: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 January, Official Report, column 641, what representations his Department received from parties to the proposed acquisition of Mid Kent Holdings by Companie Generale des Eaux and SAUR Water Services; in what form such representations were made; to whom they were made; and at what stage of the MMC investigation they were made. [15200] Mr. John M. Taylor: [holding answer 12 February 1997]: In this case, after the MMC had begun its inquiry into the proposed merger my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade was required under the provisions of the Water Industry Act 1991 to consider whether it appeared to him that it was or might be the fact that an actual merger had already taken place and hence whether the terms of the reference should be varied. In reaching his decision to vary the reference, which was announced on 13 September 1996, my right hon. Friend considered the views of General Utilities, Mid Kent Holdings and SAUR Water Services. In addition, the Department received various representations about the merger either directly from the companies or attached to correspondence from hon. Members or members of the public. It is not my right hon. Friend's policy to make public further details concerning an individual merger case once the report describing the results of the thorough inquiry conducted by the MMC has been published and my right hon. Friend's decision has been announced.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

15200; 290 c726W;290 c726-7W

Session

1996-97

Subjects

Mergers Monopolies and Mergers Commission Mid Kent Holdings Compagnie générale des eaux Saur Water Services