That this House finds it to be totally unacceptable that the French-based multi-national company Saint-Gobain should have acquired the shares of Biwater (Clay Cross) Ltd for the immediate purposes of closing the plant; is deeply concerned that this will lead to the loss of 700 jobs and the devastation of the local community; is aware that Saint-Gobain's objectives in moving to close the plant are (a) to destroy the pipe manufacturing capacity of a key rival, especially in international markets, (b) to capture Biwater's extensive and growing order book, essentially for transfer to overseas companies and (c) to transfer and asset strip the plant's machinery; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to prevent the closure by making full and effective use of powers available to him under the Fair Trading Act 1973, which includes the possibility of setting up an immediate inquiry into the take-over by the Competition Commission and halting all moves to close the plant while the Commission undertakes an in-depth investigation which it is believed will lead to the saving of the plant and the condemnation of Saint-Gobain's actions.

That this House finds it to be totally unacceptable that the French-based multi-national company Saint-Gobain should have acquired the shares of Biwater (Clay Cross) Ltd for the immediate purposes of closing the plant; is deeply concerned that this will lead to the loss of 700 jobs and the devastation of...

That this House welcomes the decision by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to block the take-over of Manchester United by BSkyB; congratulates the supporters of the club and football fans throughout the country who campaigned against the take-over; expresses satisfaction that the values, traditions and achievements of Manchester United have not been further devalued by avaricious directors of the club allowing it to become a 'brand name' in a global media war; and calls upon the Government to re-examine the whole question of ownership of professional football clubs and their relationship with their supporters who have sustained them in good and bad times.

That this House welcomes the decision by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to block the take-over of Manchester United by BSkyB; congratulates the supporters of the club and football fans throughout the country who campaigned against the take-over; expresses satisfaction that the values, traditions and achievements of...

That this House objects to the agreement where BSkyB Television will purchase Manchester United Plc; feels that this will create a unacceptable situation where BSkyB becomes both the biggest purchaser of televised football and also the owner of Europe's largest football club; is certain that this is not in the best public interest of fans, clubs or television viewers and sport in general; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to refer the proposed takeover to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in addition to setting up a full inquiry into the funding of football by television, in all its aspects.

That this House objects to the agreement where BSkyB Television will purchase Manchester United Plc; feels that this will create a unacceptable situation where BSkyB becomes both the biggest purchaser of televised football and also the owner of Europe's largest football club; is certain that this is not in the...

That this House believes that the offer by First Group PLC to buy out the other shareholders of Great Western Holding Ltd is another example of the privatised railways making individuals into millionaires at the expense of the passengers; further believes that the Franchise Director (a) failed to consult the relevant PTEs before announcing his view publicly, (b) improperly used his position to extract from the acquiring company benefits for a franchise wholly unconnected with the two Great Western Holding franchises, namely Great Eastern Trains, (c) failed to use his position to gain more than 1.5 per cent of the overall benefit for the North West which contains a directly affected franchise and (d) failed to properly consider the competitiveness issues in the north of Greater Manchester; and therefore believes that this acquisition should not be allowed to be completed by the Franchise Director until full consultation has taken place and there is equitable benefit for the involved franchises.

That this House believes that the offer by First Group PLC to buy out the other shareholders of Great Western Holding Ltd is another example of the privatised railways making individuals into millionaires at the expense of the passengers; further believes that the Franchise Director (a) failed to consult the...

That this House is deeply concerned by the news that the Japanese finance house Nomura International is considering a takeover bid for Eastern Electricity; believes that it would be totally inappropriate for one of Britain's major public utilities to be owned by a City merchant bank with no experience at all of running a major utility company; is concerned that this proposed transaction is motivated solely by short-term financial gain, with no concern for the interest of consumers as opposed to shareholders; is also concerned by the rival proposed bid by Texas Utilities, particularly in view of their low credit rating for such a major transaction and their history of problems with nuclear plant in the US; and asks the Government to look urgently at these issues as part of its review of utility regulations, and in the meantime to continue its sensible policy of referring all individual bids for United Kingdom utilities to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for investigation.

That this House is deeply concerned by the news that the Japanese finance house Nomura International is considering a takeover bid for Eastern Electricity; believes that it would be totally inappropriate for one of Britain's major public utilities to be owned by a City merchant bank with no experience at...

That this House is deeply concerned about the proposed acquisition of Corals by its main competitor in the British bookmaking markets, Ladbrokes; sees the takeover as not being in the public interest as it would establish a large monopoly in the betting industry in the United Kingdom, currently worth in excess of ??7 billion per annum; notes also that, if approved, such a buy-out would further restrict competition and consumer choice, particularly in local markets and create undesirable levels of financial interests in betting subsidiary services SIS and BAGS, thereby risking undue prominence in their decision making processes; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to immediately halt the sale by referring it to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

That this House is deeply concerned about the proposed acquisition of Corals by its main competitor in the British bookmaking markets, Ladbrokes; sees the takeover as not being in the public interest as it would establish a large monopoly in the betting industry in the United Kingdom, currently worth in...

That this House notes the take-over bid by Glaxo for Wellcome; recognises the important role both companies have played in putting the United Kingdom amongst the leaders in the world pharmaceutical industry; is concerned at this recent turn of events and in particular the significant job losses which will undoubtedly occur as a consequence of streamlining research and development programmes, rationalising manufacturing facilities and reshaping the selling and administrative functions; criticises the decision of the Wellcome Trust to dispose of its total shareholding in Wellcome without apparent regard for the longstanding relationship between the Trust and the company or without obtaining assurances about the long-term interests of the employees at Wellcome; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to develop an effective industrial strategy for the pharmaceutical industry which encourages co-operation and joint ventures for the benefit of all and avoids the distracting and damaging consequences of leaving the future of major United Kingdom companies entirely in the hands of the financial markets. (Relevant registered interest declared).

That this House notes the take-over bid by Glaxo for Wellcome; recognises the important role both companies have played in putting the United Kingdom amongst the leaders in the world pharmaceutical industry; is concerned at this recent turn of events and in particular the significant job losses which will undoubtedly...

That this House is concerned about the relationship that the Keswick family and Trafalgar House has with the Conservative Party and the Government in connection with Trafalgar House's bid for Northern Electric; notes that the sister-in-law of the Chairman of Trafalgar House is an adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer; also notes that Trafalgar House has made substantial donations to the Conservative Party in recent years; and calls upon the Government and the Conservative Party to clarify its relationship with Trafalgar House and the Keswick family.

That this House is concerned about the relationship that the Keswick family and Trafalgar House has with the Conservative Party and the Government in connection with Trafalgar House's bid for Northern Electric; notes that the sister-in-law of the Chairman of Trafalgar House is an adviser to the Chancellor of the...