Briefly

MERGERS APPROVED: Mrs State for Employment and Productivity, does not intend to refer three proposed mergers to the Monopolies Commission.

National Westminster Bank Ltd is to go ahead to acquire Lombard Bank Ltd.

Securities, Parnell Electrical Industries Ltd and Falks Ltd are involved merger talks and the special roducts group GECEnglish Electric will merge with the Rotax subsidiary of Joseph Lucas (Industries) Ltd.

STEEL SCHEME: The British Steel Corporation is to spend an additional £4 million at the Spencer steel works at Llanwern, near Newport.

Earlier this year, the £7.5 million first phase of scheme was announced.

Both projects are scheduled for completion in 1972.

BOEING 707 CRASH: A Pan American Boeing 707 jet airliner crashed on taking off from Sydney airport yesterday through colliding with a large flock of birds.

The aircraft was travelling at high speed on the runway when two of its engines lost power because of hitting the birds.

The pilot took emergency action and managed to bring the plane to a stop 2,000 feet off the end of the runway.

Although aircraft, which came to rest on its nose, was not badly damaged, its landing gear was destroyed.

SPRINGBOKS BAN: The South African rugby touring team, the Springboks, have found a non-union hotel to accommodate them during their visit to the Irish Republic in January.

The use of non-union hotel was necessary because the Irish Congress of Trades Unions instructed its members not to provide service for the team at hotels or on public transport.

Mr Michael Mullen, general T&GWU, said that hon the Irish Rugby Football 'bringing a disgrace on our city by inviting the Springboks'.