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This version of this statute is extracted from the UK Statute Law Database (SLD). It is not necessarily in the form in which it was originally enacted but is a revised version, which means that any subsequent amendments to the text and other effects are incorporated with annotations.
There are effects on this legislation that have not yet been applied to SLD for the following years: 2003, 2004 and 2009. See the Tables of Legislative effects and the Update status of legislation page on the SLD website.
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Control of anti-competitive practices
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An Act to abolish the Price Commission; to make provision for the control of anti-competitive practices in the supply and acquisition of goods and the supply and securing of services; to provide for references of certain public bodies and other persons to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; to provide for the investigation of prices and charges by the Director General of Fair Trading; to provide for the making of grants to certain bodies; to amend and provide for the amendment of the Fair Trading Act 1973; to make amendments with respect to the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976; to repeal the remaining provisions of the Counter-Inflation Act 1973; and for purposes connected therewith.
[3rd April 1980]
C1Act excluded by Financial Services Act 1986 (c. 60, SIF 69), ss. 126(1), 140, Sch. 11 paras. 12(1)(2), 36(2)
C2Act amended by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 100(1); by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), s. 47(1), Sch. 14 para. 10(1)(2) and by S.I. 1990/593, art. 49(1), Sch. 14 para. 10(1)
Act amended (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/593, reg. 2, Sch. 1
C3Act modified (E.W.) (1.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), ss. 10(1)(b), 12(4) (with s. 25(2)); S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3,Sch.
C4Act modified (S.) (21.10.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 33(1)(b) (with s. 47(4)); S.I. 1991/2286, art. 2, Sch. 1
C5Act: power to apply conferred (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56, SIF 130), ss. 12(5), 223(2) (with ss. 82(3), 186(1), 222(1), Sch 14 para. 6)
C6Act: definitions applied (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56, SIF 130), ss. 17(4), 31(9), 223(2) (with ss. 82(3), 186(1), 222(1), Sch. 14 para. 6)
C7Act modified (17.2.1994) by S.I. 1993/3160 (N.I. 15), art. 32(1)(b).
Act modified (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, ss. 12(7), 82(2), Sch. 4 paras. 5-8
C8Act applied (1.3.1996) by 1986 c. 44, s. 27(6) (as substituted (1.3.1996) by 1995 c. 45, s. 10(1), Sch. 3 para. 25; S.I. 1996/218, art. 2)
Act applied (1.3.1996) by 1986 c. 44, s. 36A(9) (as inserted (1.3.1996) by 1995 c. 45, s. 10(1), Sch. 3 para. 43; S.I. 1996/218, art. 2)
Act applied (N.I.) (10.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), art. 18(5) (with Sch. 7 paras. 2, 3(2)); S.R. 1996/216, art. 2
C9Act extended (N.I.) (10.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), art. 23(8) (with Sch. 7 paras. 2, 3(2)); S.R. 1996/216, art. 2
I1Act not in force at Royal Assent see s. 33(5); Act wholly in force at 12.8.1980
F1S. 1 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989 (c. 43), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. II Group 2
F1Ss. 2-10 repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 17, 74(3), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I.2000/344, art. 2, Sch.
F1Ss. 2-10 repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 17, 74(3), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.
F1Ss. 2-10 repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 17, 74(3), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.
F1Ss. 2-10 repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 17, 74(3), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, SCh.
F1Ss. 2-10 repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 17, 74(3), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.
F1Ss. 2-10 repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 17, 74(3), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.
F1Ss. 2-10 repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 17, 74(3), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S,I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.
F1Ss. 2-10 repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 17, 74(3), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.
F1Ss. 2-10 repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 17, 74(3), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.
(1)The Secretary of State may at any time refer to the Commission any question relating to—
(a)the efficiency and costs of,
(b)the service provided by, or
(c)possible abuse of a monopoly situation by,
a person falling within subsection (3) below and specified in the reference, including any question whether, in relation to a matter falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above, the person is pursuing a course of conduct which operates against the public interest.
(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)(c) above “monopoly situation” includes a monopoly situation which is limited to a part of the United Kingdom and, accordingly, for those purposes references to the United Kingdom in sections 6 and 7 of the M1Fair Trading Act 1973 shall be taken to include references to a part of the United Kingdom.
(3)The persons referred to in subsection (1) above are—
(a)any body corporate—
(i)which supplies goods or services by way of business,
(ii)the affairs of which are managed by its members, and
(iii)the members of which hold office as such by virtue of their appointment to that or another office by a Minister under any enactment; or
[F1(aa)any publicly owned railway company, within the meaning of the Railways Act 1993, which supplies network services or station services, within the meaning of Part I of that Act; or]
[F2(b)any person (not falling within paragraph (a) above) who provides in Northern Ireland a bus service within the meaning of section 14 of the Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966; or]
[F3(bb)any person who provides a railway passenger service in pursuance of an agreement entered into by London Regional Transport by virtue of [F4section 3(2) or (2A)(a)] of the [F5London Regional Transport Act 1984]; or]
[F6(c)the National Rivers Authority;]
[F7(cc)[F8the new water and sewerage authorities, within the meaning of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994;]]
(d)any board administering a scheme under the M2Agricultural Marketing Act 1958 [F9or the M3Agricultural Marketing Act (Northern Ireland) 1964][F10or the Agricultural Marketing (Northern Ireland) Order 1982]; or
(e)any body corporate with a statutory duty to promote and assist the maintenance and development of the efficient supply of any goods or services by a body falling within paragraphs (a) to (d) above; or
(f)any subsidiary, within the meaning of [F11section 736 of]the [F12Companies Act 1985], of a body falling within paragraphs (a) to (e) above.
(4)The Secretary of State may by order exclude from subsection (3)(b) [F13or (bb)]above persons of such descriptions as may be specified in the order.
(5)No question concerning a person falling within subsection (3)(b) [F14or (bb)]above or a subsidiary of a body falling within [F15that subsection][F15either of those paragraphs]may be referred to the Commission under this section unless it relates to the carriage of passengers by the person or, as the case may be, the subsidiary.
(6)The Secretary of State may at any time by notice given to the Commission vary a reference under this section.
(7)On making a reference under this section or on varying such a reference under subsection (6) above the Secretary of State shall arrange for the reference or, as the case may be, the variation to be published in such manner as he considers most suitable for bringing it to the attention of persons who in his opinion would be affected by it or be likely to have an interest in it.
(8)On a reference under this section the Commission shall investigate and report on any question referred to them but shall exclude from their investigation and report consideration of—
(a)any question relating to the appropriateness of any financial obligations or guidance as to financial objectives (however expressed) imposed on or given to the person in question by or under any enactment, or otherwise by a Minister; F16. . .
F16(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[F17(9)The provisions mentioned in subsection (9A) are to apply in relation to a reference under this section as if—
(a)the functions of the Competition Commission under this section were functions under the Fair Trading Act 1973;
(b)the expression “merger reference” included a reference to the Commission under this section; and
(c)in paragraph 20(2)(a) of Schedule 7 to the Competition Act 1998, the reference to section 56 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 were a reference to section 12 below.
(9A)The provisions are—
(a)sections 70 (time limit for report on merger), 84 (public interest) and 85 (attendance of witnesses and production of documents) of the Fair Trading Act 1973; and
(b)Part II of Schedule 7 to the Competition Act 1998 (performance of the Competition Commission’s general functions).]
(10)A report of the Commission on a reference under this section shall be made to the Secretary of State and shall state, with reasons, the conclusions of the Commission with respect to any question referred to them and, where the Commission conclude that the person specified in the reference is pursuing a course of conduct which operates against the public interest, the report may include recommendations as to what action (if any) should be taken by the person for the purpose of remedying or preventing what the Commission consider are the adverse effects of that course of conduct.
(11)In this section “Minister” includes a Northern Ireland department and the head of such a department.
F1S. 11(3)(aa) inserted (6.1.1994) by 1993 c. 43, s. 152(1), Sch. 12 para. 12(1) (with s. 150(1)(o)); S.I. 1993/3237, art. 2(2)
F2S. 11(3)(b) substituted by virtue of Transport Act 1985 (c. 67, SIF 126), s. 114(1)(a)
F3S. 11(3)(bb) inserted (E.W.) by London Regional Transport Act 1984 (c. 32, SIF 126), s. 71(3)(a), Sch. 6 para. 15(1)(b)
F4Words in s. 11(3)(bb) substituted (E.W.) (17.8.1996) by 1996 c. 21, ss. 4(2)(a), 6(2)
F5Words substituted by Transport Act 1985 (c. 67, SIF 126), s. 114(1)(b)
F6S. 11(3)(c) commencing “the National Rivers” substituted (E.W.) for s. 11(3)(c) commencing “any statutory water” by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 190(1), Sch. 25 para. 59(1)
F7S. 11(3)(cc) inserted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 72 (with s. 74(4)); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(a), Sch. 1
F8S. 11(3)(cc) repealed (S.) (1.4.2002) by Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp. 3), ss. 71, 72(2), Sch. 7 para. 10 (with art. 67); S.S.I. 2002/118, art. 2(3)
F9Words repealed (prosp.) (but by S.R.s 1984 No. 422 and 1989 No. 47 the repeal came into operation in relation to the Pigs Marketing Board (Northern Ireland) on 31.12.1984 and in relation to the Milk Marketing Board for Northern Ireland on 1.4.1989 respectively) by S.I. 1982/1080, (N.I. 12), art. 46(2), Sch. 9
F10Words inserted by S.I. 1982/1080, (N.I. 12), art. 46(1), Sch. 8
F11Words inserted by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), s. 144(4), Sch. 18 para. 22
F12Words substituted by Companies Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1985 (c. 9, SIF 27), s. 30, Sch. 2
F13Words inserted (E.W.) by London Regional Transport Act 1984 (c. 32, SIF 126), s. 71(3)(a), Sch. 6 para. 15(2)
F14Words inserted (E.W.) by London Regional Transport Act 1984 (c. 32, SIF 126), s. 71(3)(a), Sch. 6 para. 15(3)(a
F15Words “either of those paragraphs” substituted (E.W.) for words “that subsection” by London Regional Transport Act 1984 (c. 32, SIF 126), s. 71(3)(a), Sch. 6 para. 15(3)(b)
F16S. 11(8)(b) and the word preceding it repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 74(1)(3), Sch. 12 para. 4(2), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.
F17S. 11(9)(9A) substituted for s. 11(9) (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 74(1), 76(3), Sch. 12 para. 4(3) (with s. 73); S.I. 1999/505, art. 2, Sch.
M11973 c. 41.
M21958 c. 47.
M31964 c. 13 (N.I.)
(1)This section applies where a report of the Commission on a reference under section 11 above concludes that the person specified in the reference is pursuing a course of conduct which operates against the public interest.
(2)If it appears to the Secretary of State that any other Minister has functions directly relating to the person specified in the reference or, in the case of a reference only concerning the activities of the person in a part of the United Kingdom, functions directly relating to the person in respect of his activities in that part, he shall send a copy of the report of the Commission on the reference to that Minister; and in subsection (3) below “the relevant Minister” means—
(a)in a case where it appears to the Secretary of State that any Minister (including himself) has such functions, that Minister, and
(b)in a case where it appears to the Secretary of State that no Minister has such functions, the Secretary of State.
(3)If—
(a)the relevant Minister considers it appropriate for the purpose of remedying or preventing what he considers are the adverse effects of the course of conduct specified in the report of the Commission as operating against the public interest, and
(b)the person specified in the reference does not fall within paragraph (d) of section 11(3) above and is not a subsidiary of a body falling within that paragraph,
he may by order direct the person to prepare within such time, if any, as may be specified in the order a plan for remedying or preventing such of those effects as are so specified; but where there is more than one relevant Minister no such order shall be made except by all the relevant Ministers acting jointly and where none of the relevant Ministers is the Secretary of State no such order shall be made except after consultation with him.
(4)It shall be the duty of a person to whom a direction is given under subsection (3) above to prepare such a plan as is mentioned in that subsection and to send a copy of that plan to the Minister or Ministers by whom the order containing the direction was made who shall lay it before Parliament; and, in a case where the plan involves the use by a body of its powers in relation to any subsidiary within the meaning of [F1section 736 of]the [F2Companies Act 1985], the plan shall specify the manner in which the body proposes using those powers.
(5)Whether or not an order has been or may be made under subsection (3) above, the Secretary of State may, if he considers it appropriate for the purpose of remedying or preventing what he considers are the adverse effects of the course of conduct specified in the report of the Commission as operating against the public interest, by order exercise one or more of the powers specified in Part I, excluding paragraph 10, of Schedule 8 to the M1Fair Trading Act 1973, to such extent and in such manner as he considers appropriate.
(6)In the M2Fair Trading Act 1973—
(a)section 90 (general provisions as to orders under section 56 etc.) except subsections (2) and (3),
(b)section 91(2) (publication of proposals to make an order),
(c)section 93 (enforcement of certain orders), and
(d)Part I (except paragraph 10) of Schedule 8 (powers exercisable by orders under section 56 etc.),
shall have effect as if any reference in those provisions to an order under section 56 of that Act included a reference to an order under subsection (5) above.
F1Words inserted by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), s. 144(4), Sch. 18 para. 22
F2Words substituted by Companies Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1985 (c. 9, SIF 27), s. 30, Sch. 2
C1S. 12(5) amended by Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (c. 48, SIF 67A), ss. 144(2), 238(2)
M11973 c. 41.
M21973 c. 41.
(1)If so directed by the Secretary of State, the Director shall carry out an investigation into any price specified in the direction with a view to providing the Secretary of State with information of a description so specified relating to that price: F1. . ..
(2)The Secretary of State shall not give a direction under this section unless he is satisfied that the price in question is one of major public concern and, in this connection, he shall have regard to whether—
(a)the provision or acquisition of the goods or services in question is of general economic importance; or
(b)consumers are significantly affected, whether directly or indirectly, by the price.
Competition Act 1980