Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

If he will use his powers under the Enterprise Act 2002 to intervene in the takeover bid for GKN by Melrose.

Under the Enterprise Act 2002, Ministers can only intervene in mergers that raise public interest concerns on the grounds of national security, financial stability and media plurality.

Public interest interventions are quasi-judicial in nature. It is important that Ministers act, and are seen to be acting impartially, on the basis of an open mind and on the evidence available.

It is therefore not appropriate for me to comment.

I continue to monitor this situation closely.