P521ORACLE 521 Mon20 Jan C4 1714:20   GEC'S £1.2bn PLESSEY  BID IS REFERRED Trade Secretary Leon Brittan has referred the £1.2bn proposed merger of GEC with telecommunications group Plessey to the Monopolies Commission. A statement from the Dept of Trade said the Secretary of State felt GEC's proposals "raised issues of competition which justified investigation". Plessey chairman Sir John Clark said he was glad the unwanted bid was to be investigated. The group had always felt the issue was of "national importance". GEC said it had no immediate comment on the decision. GEC libel action ─ p522  SKIING HOLS...........584