Written question asked by James Gray (Conservative) on Monday, 7 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 June 2004. It was answered by Gerry Sutcliffe (Labour) on Monday, 14 June 2004 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, when the Office of Fair Trading's investigation into the proposed takeover of Alvis plc by General Dynamics Corporation will be complete; and why the proposed takeover of Alvis plc by General Dynamics Corporation was referred to the Office of Fair Trading.

Answer: Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Office of Fair Trading's investigation into the proposed takeover of Alvis plc by General Dynamics Corporation will be complete; and why the proposed takeover of Alvis plc by General Dynamics Corporation was referred to the Office of Fair Trading. [177779] Mr. Sutcliffe: I asked the Office of Fair Trading to look at the merger as I believed that the interests of national security may be relevant to the proposed acquisition. I announced on 3 June that I had decided not to refer to the Competition Commission the proposed acquisition of Alvis plc by General Dynamics Corporation, provided the parties give undertakings to remedy the public security concerns arising in this case. The effect of the undertakings proposed would be that General Dynamics Corporation would be required to take certain measures to enable the UK to maintain its strategic capabilities and protect classified information and the intellectual property rights of the Ministry of Defence.

Secondary information