Disclosure of interest

Southern Water merger inquiry

The Chairman is minded to appoint Chris Goodall to the Group that will be conducting this investigation.

Among other activities, Mr Goodall writes reports on the media,telecommunications and technology industries. In these reports, he has occasionally commented on television companies that are owned by Vivendi Universal. In particular, he co-authored a paper on the French television industry that was published in 2001. This paper included references to Canal Plus, a subsidiary of Vivendi Universal. No part of Vivendi is a client of the publishing and consulting business for which Mr Goodall works.

The Commission is satisfied that Mr Goodall will act in a completely impartial manner.

7 June 2002

Dr Derek Morris, the Chairman of the CC, has asked Professor David Parker, one of our members and Professor in Business Economics and Strategy at Aston University, to join the Group that will be conducting this investigation.

Professor Parker was a member of the Group responsible for the CC reports on Sutton and East Surrey Water plc and Mid Kent Water plc. In 2001 he published, with a colleague, two articles on the Water and Sewerage Companies of England and Wales. The articles are enclosed. Neither Dr Morris nor Professor Parker consider that the articles in any way constitute a conflict of interest in that they would prejudice his ability to conduct himself independently and impartially.

7 June 2002