Business and Other Briefings
Comp C: The Competition Commission (CC), together with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), has commissioned a study of some of past CC and OFT merger decisions.
John Davies, Chief Economist of the CC, said: “When the CC or OFT decides whether to intervene in a merger case, the judgement is based on analysis of the likely future evolution of the market. We can all learn a lot by looking back at past decisions a few years later, to allow us to improve that analysis”.
The lessons of past cases may also inform the CC's and OFT's thinking as they prepare to issue new joint substantive merger guidelines in 2009, following public consultation.
DIUS: Home improvement retailer B&Q has become the 100,000th company to sign up to Train to Gain, as the flagship service marks its second year of helping to boost the nation's skills. Since its launch in 2006, Train to Gain has helped over 570,000 employees in England get training and over 291,000 learners have achieved a qualification.
An evaluation published this year revealed that some 43% of people who had completed their training reported having received a pay rise, and 30% reported having had promotion. Funding for Train to Gain will increase from £520m in 2007-08 to over £1bn by 2010-11.
Energy Products Directive - Expiry of the derogations allowing a reduced rate or exempt fuel for private pleasure-flying.
Energy Products Directive- Expiry of the derogations allowing reduced rate duty on fuel in private pleasure craft.
