Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed merger between the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Börse on London's role as a global financial centre.

The government is aware of the announcement by the London Stock Exchange Group and Deutsche Boerse that they have reached agreement on a merger of equals. This is a commercial transaction and subject to regulatory and other relevant approvals. The Government will not be commenting at this stage.