Fair Trading Act 1973

[F1 56B Proposals under section 56A: preparatory steps. U.K.

(1) The Director may only make a proposal under section 56A of this Act if—

(a) the first or second condition is met, and

(b) the third condition is met.

(2) The first condition is that the Director has published in an appropriate manner a notice containing—

(a) each of the matters mentioned in subsection (5) of this section, and

(b) the invitation mentioned in subsection (6) of this section.

(3) The second condition is that the Director has published in an appropriate manner—

(a) a notice containing the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (5) of this section, and

(b) a notice containing—

(i) the matters mentioned in paragraphs (c), (d), (e) and (f) of that subsection, and

(ii) the invitation mentioned in subsection (6) of this section.

(4) The third condition is that the Director has considered any representations made to him in accordance with the notice under this section which contains the invitation mentioned in subsection (6) of this section.

(5) The matters referred to above are—

(a) the identity of the person or persons in whose favour the Director considers the monopoly situation exists,

(b) the terms of the proposed monopoly reference,

(c) the facts relating to the monopoly situation which the Director considers may now or in future operate against the public interest,

(d) the effects identified by the Director as the particular effects, adverse to the public interest, which the facts relating to the monopoly situation may now or in future have,

(e) the terms of the undertakings which the Director is, at the time of the notice, considering proposing the Secretary of State accept in lieu of the Director making the proposed monopoly reference (“the potential undertakings”), and

(f) the identity of the persons by whom the potential undertakings would be given.

(6) The invitation referred to above is an invitation to make representations to the Director, within such time as he may specify, about the potential undertakings being the subject of a proposal under section 56A of this Act.

(7) For the purposes of the law relating to defamation, absolute privilege shall attach to anything contained in a notice published under this section.

(8) In this section, references to an appropriate manner, in relation to the publication of a notice by the Director, are to such manner as he considers most suitable for the purpose of bringing the notice to the attention of persons who, in his opinion, are likely to be interested in it.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 56A-56G inserted (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, ss. 7(1), 82(2)

Ss. 56A-56G: functions transferred (N.I.) (10.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), art. 23(2)(c)(4)(c) (with Sch. 7 paras. 2, 3(2)); S.R. 1996/216, art. 2

Ss. 56A-56G: certain functions transferred (E.W.S.) (1.3.1996) by 1986 c. 44, s. 36A(2) (as inserted (1.3.1996) by 1995 c. 45, s. 10(1), Sch. 3 para. 43; S.I. 1996/218, art. 2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 56A-56G extended (E.W.) by 1994 c. 40, ss. 7, 82(2), Sch. 2 paras. 8(1), 9

C2 Ss. 56A-56G extended (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, ss. 7, 82(2), Sch. 2 para. 1(1)

Ss. 56A-56G extended (E.W.S.) (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, ss. 7, 82(2), Sch. 2 para. 4(1)

Ss. 56A-56G amended (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, ss. 86(1)(2), 87, 89 (with s. 106); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

Ss. 56A-56G extended (N.I.) (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, ss. 7, 82(2), Sch. 2 para. 5(1)

Ss. 56A-56G extended (E.W.S.) (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, ss. 7, 82(2), Sch. 2 para. 11(1)