To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will refer the transfer of Guardian Media Group to Trinity Mirror to the Competition Commission to investigate potential monopolies in media ownership in Cheshire and Surrey. (325147)

[holding answer 6 April 2010]: The responsibility for investigating and making decisions on mergers falls to the UK’s independent competition authorities. In this case, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is investigating the acquisition under the Enterprise Act 2002 which will include whether it creates potential monopolies in markets.

The OFT will announce its conclusions in due course including whether or not to refer the merger to the Competition Commission.