That this House expresses its concern that the current takeover bid for Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries by Pubmaster poses a considerable threat to the future of the Park Brewery, Wolverhampton, whose Banks's beers are much cherished locally as locally-brewed ales catering for local taste, which are part of the cultural heritage of the city; recognises that any attempt to brew Banks's elsewhere would be unacceptable to local drinkers; and opposes the closure of Banks's Brewery, which would be a considerable blow to the employees of the brewery and to the general economic and social well-being of the West Midlands community.

That this House expresses its concern that the current takeover bid for Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries by Pubmaster poses a considerable threat to the future of the Park Brewery, Wolverhampton, whose Banks's beers are much cherished locally as locally-brewed ales catering for local taste, which are part of the cultural...

That this House notes that the Office of Fair Trading is currently considering the proposition of a merger between Abbey National, the fifth largest UK bank, and Lloyds TSB, the third largest bank; further notes that there are 600 Abbey National branch offices within half a mile of a Lloyds TSB branch office; believes these would ultimately be vulnerable to closure, thus reducing customer choice; fears that approximately 8,000 jobs could be lost following any merger between Lloyds TSB and Abbey National; understands that most of the staff in these posts would be female and part time, and a significant number will be aged over 45; notes that according to the latest Lloyds TSB annual report, 16,724 jobs were lost in the four years following the last time Lloyds merged with another bank, the TSB; recalls that the Cruikshank review of banking services stated that 'relatively few mergers among the top ten banks in the UK could presently be argued to be in the public interest' and concluded that the Government should, until the merger law is reform, 'refer all mergers between financial suppliers to the Competition Commission for investigation'; acknowledges that two of the trade unions with members employed by Lloyds TSB and Abbey National, namely UNIFI, the largest trade union for financial services workers and the Abbey National Staff Association, have called for the merger to be referred to the Competition Commission; and calls on all the competition authorities to ensure that the Competition Commission has the opportunity to examine in detail and at length the many and serious issues of public interest that the merger raises.

That this House notes that the Office of Fair Trading is currently considering the proposition of a merger between Abbey National, the fifth largest UK bank, and Lloyds TSB, the third largest bank; further notes that there are 600 Abbey National branch offices within half a mile of a Lloyds...

That this House urges the Government, in the interests of equity, to consider raising the percentage of borrowers needed to support conversion or take-over of building societies to 75 per cent., on a minimum 50 per cent. turnout, to bring them into line with the criteria required for savers, recognising the long-term interest of borrowers in the future of their society.

That this House urges the Government, in the interests of equity, to consider raising the percentage of borrowers needed to support conversion or take-over of building societies to 75 per cent., on a minimum 50 per cent. turnout, to bring them into line with the criteria required for savers, recognising...

That this House notes that BSkyB Television has made an offer to buy Manchester United Football Club plc; further notes that BSkyB Television currently holds the exclusive rights to live broadcasts of Premier League football matches and is likely to bid again for the broadcast rights when the current agreement expires; believes that the possibility of BSkyB Television as both a bidder for television rights to the Premier League and the owner of its most high-profile club is a matter of serious public interest and anxiety; is concerned that the BSkyB bid signals a trend whereby the interests of broadcasters take precedence over those of football clubs; warns that the deal will further concentrate wealth in the hands of an exclusive elite, thus threatening the survival of smaller football clubs and the wellbeing of the game at grassroots level; and, therefore, calls upon the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to recommend rejection of the BSkyB bid as a contribution to safeguarding the future of the national game.

That this House notes that BSkyB Television has made an offer to buy Manchester United Football Club plc; further notes that BSkyB Television currently holds the exclusive rights to live broadcasts of Premier League football matches and is likely to bid again for the broadcast rights when the current agreement...

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 calls on the Office of Fair Trading and the Department of Trade and Industry to refer the present takeover bid by Triplex Lloyd for William Cook to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; believes a detailed evaluation of the kind the Monopolies and Mergers Commission can carry out is necessary in this case; further believes that the restructuring of the steel castings industry over the last decade, resulting in one of the most competitive such industries, should not be put in jeopardy by an ill-conceived takeover; understands the crucial relevance of the company to Britain's defence industrial base; and requests that the financial institutions properly evaluate the industrial strength of this sector and base their decision on the long-term interest of the investor and the customer, and not on short-term gain.

That this House calls on the Office of Fair Trading and the Department of Trade and Industry to refer the present takeover bid by Triplex Lloyd for William Cook to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; believes a detailed evaluation of the kind the Monopolies and Mergers Commission can carry out...

That this House notes the bid by Kalon Group plc for Manders plc; notes that Kalon have stated in their offer document that their objective is to achieve an increased market share of the paint market, and in the process cut 500 jobs from the workforce of a combined group; notes that a takeover of Manders would leave Kalon with over 70 per cent. of the own-label paint market; notes that such an outcome would leave many small retailers dependent on Kalon for the supply of own-label paints; believes a merger would threaten a reduction in competition against the public interest; and calls upon the President of the Board of Trade and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to refer this bid to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for further investigation.

That this House notes the bid by Kalon Group plc for Manders plc; notes that Kalon have stated in their offer document that their objective is to achieve an increased market share of the paint market, and in the process cut 500 jobs from the workforce of a combined group;...

That this House recognises the anxiety of workers at all levels, present and past, of Imperial Chemical Industries at the possibility of Hanson plc augmenting its 2.8 per cent. holding of ICI's shares to gain a controlling interest in the company's affairs; understands the concern of conurbations where ICI units are located that mature relationships between the company and these communities could be destabilised by such a change should it be brought about; acknowledges advice given by Imperial Pensioners (Tobacco and Food) by letter dated 12th June 1991 to the honourable Member for Stockton North in which they 'recommend vigilance and scrutiny concerning both the intentions and the actions of Hanson plc in so far as they can be readily established or are publicly revealed' and commends ICI for committing the affairs of its company pension funds to an independent board of trustees; acknowledges too the Secretary of State's assurance that he 'shall take an interest - if there were to be a bid' and 'consider representations from interested parties before reaching any decisions'; is of the firm opinion that considerations of national, regional and community interests in relation to this affair require firm handling by Her Majesty's Government; and therefore calls upon the Prime Minister to ensure that Ministers and officials do everything to make certain the matter is resolved in this country and in accord with the expressed wishes of the company, its workforce, its pensioners and the communities in which it is established.

That this House recognises the anxiety of workers at all levels, present and past, of Imperial Chemical Industries at the possibility of Hanson plc augmenting its 2.8 per cent. holding of ICI's shares to gain a controlling interest in the company's affairs; understands the concern of conurbations where ICI units...