Retail round-up: Sir Philip Green demands apology from Labour MP Frank Field, and Amazon UK gets government nod to explore drone deliveries

Sir Philip Green calls MPs’ report ‘biased and unfair’

Sir Philip Green has strongly condemned the “biased and unfair process” with which the report into the demise of BHS was conducted by MPs.

Attacking the assessment that branded him the “unacceptable face of capitalism”, Green claimed the conclusion was “predetermined”.

Responding to a scathing report from two Commons select committees which said Sir Philip had left the retailer on "life support", he said: "I have now carefully read the select committees' report and note their findings.

"I believe that the report is the predetermined and inaccurate output of a biased and unfair process.”

Meanwhile, he has also demanded an “immediate apology” from MP Frank Field for comments he made about his previous running of the collapsed high-street chain.

Speaking to the BBC, Field compared Green to the late media magnate Robert Maxwell, who stole millions from the Mirror Group's pension fund.

"This statement is highly defamatory and completely false," said law firm Schillings, representing Green.

However, Field refused to apologise.

Some top City firms have been urged to return some of the money they made from the doomed sale of BHS.

The firms – including Linklaters, Olswang and Grant Thornton – made up to £10m from advising on the sale of the department store for £1 to Dominic Chappell's Retail Acquisitions.

Amazon gets UK government approval to test drone deliveries

Amazon has secured the necessary approval from the British government to test parcel delivery using small drones, Reuters reported.

The etailer said it has struck a partnership with a cross-government team supported by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to “explore the drone delivery process”.

Amazon will begin piloting drone deliveries "beyond line of sight" in several rural and suburban areas.

The online retailer will test the performance of sensors to ensure that drones can avoid obstacles, as well as trialling one person operating multiple drones.

Sainsbury's acquisition of Home Retail approved by regulator

J Sainsbury's purchase agreement with Home Retail Group has been cleared by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The deal – in which the supermarket chain is acquiring the owner of Argos for £1.2bn – has also been approved by the Competition & Markets Authority.

The deal remains subject to approval by Home Retail Group shareholders.

Shares in J Sainsbury rose 1.3% to 228p, while Home Retail shares rose 0.5% to 155.10p.