TRADE President Ian Lang was today urged to order the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to investigate Stagecoach's proposed purchase of half of Burnley and Pendle Transport.

With meetings this week deciding whether the Liberal Democrat-led Pendle Borough will sell it's half share in the bus undertaking, Burnleyl MP Peter Pike has asked Mr Lang to intervene.

In a written Parliamentary question to be answered tonight, the Labour backbencher has asked Mr Lang: "If he will refer the proposed sale of Pendle Borough Council's 50 per cent stake in Burnley and Pendle Transport to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission."

Mr Pike has also asked for statistics on how often bus company mergers and takeovers have been referred to the MMC since the industry was deregulated in 1985.

Burnley's Labour-led borough council has opposed the sale but is coming under growing pressure from Stagecoach to sell their half if the Pendle deal goes ahead. Burnley have been promised a cash bonus by Stagecoach if they cave in.

But Mr Pike and Pendle Labour MP Gordon Prentice have bitterly opposed the sale of any of the bus undertaking to Stagecoach.

Now Mr Pike is seeking an MMC enquiry in a bid to stop the sale going ahead because Stagecoach are already a major player in the Lancashire bus industry.

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