During the 90s, Marvel UK was actually headed by Paul Neary (Alan Davis' inker). 
nton wrote:
Huh..? Do you mean that Disney are blocking UK reprints of UK material, UK reprints of US material, US reprints of UK material, or something else?
(And, whichever you meant, is that based on speculation or any statement/press release in particular, please? )
Panini had a license to also create new stories using Marvel characters.  Disney finally put the kibosh on it.