Written question asked by Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 11 December 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 14 December 2000. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Thursday, 14 December 2000 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he has taken to ensure that BAe Systems complies with the undertakings given to him as a condition for his approval of its merger with Marconi Electronic Systems in relation to maintaining competition for sub-contracts in the procurement of defence equipment.

Answer: Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure that BAe Systems complies with the undertakings given to him as a condition for his approval of its merger with Marconi Electronic Systems in relation to maintaining competition for sub-contracts in the procurement of defence equipment. [142742] Dr. Howells: Under section 75J of the Fair Trading Act 1973, it is for the Director General of Fair Trading to keep under review any undertaking accepted by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in lieu of reference to the Competition Commission. Under the terms of the undertakings accepted from BAe Systems in relation to their acquisition of Marconi Electronic Systems, BAe Systems was required to appoint a Compliance Officer to oversee the company's compliance with the undertakings and to report to the Director General of Fair Trading and the Ministry of Defence on that issue.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 359 c208W;359 c206W; 142742
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Competition Defence equipment Procurement Mergers BAE Systems Marconi
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk