Transport Act 2000

13 Reports on references. E+W+S+N.I.

(1) In making a report on a reference under section 12 the Competition Commission—

(a) must include definite conclusions on the questions contained in the reference and such an account of its reasons for the conclusions as in its opinion facilitates a proper understanding of the questions and of the conclusions;

(b) if it concludes that any of the matters specified in the reference operate against the public interest or may be expected to do so, must specify the effects adverse to the public interest which the matters have or may be expected to have;

(c) if it concludes that any adverse effects so specified could be remedied or prevented by modifications of the conditions of the licence, must specify modifications by which the effects could be remedied or prevented.

[F1 (1A) For the purposes of sections 14 to 17, a conclusion contained in a report of the Competition Commission is to be disregarded if the conclusion is not that of at least two-thirds of the members of the group constituted in connection with the reference concerned in pursuance of paragraph 15 of Schedule 7 to the Competition Act 1998.

(1B) If a member of a group so constituted disagrees with any conclusions contained in a report made on a reference under section 12 as the conclusions of the Competition Commission, the report shall, if the member so wishes, include a statement of his disagreement and of his reasons for disagreeing.]

[F2 (2) For the purposes of the law relating to defamation, absolute privilege attaches to any report made by the Competition Commission on a reference under section 12.

(2A) In making any report on a reference under section 12 the Competition Commission must have regard to the following considerations before disclosing any information.

(2B) The first consideration is the need to exclude from disclosure (so far as practicable) any information whose disclosure the Competition Commission thinks is contrary to the public interest.

(2C) The second consideration is the need to exclude from disclosure (so far as practicable)—

(a) commercial information whose disclosure the Competition Commission thinks might significantly harm the legitimate business interests of the undertaking to which it relates, or

(b) information relating to the private affairs of an individual whose disclosure the Competition Commission thinks might significantly harm the individual’s interests.

(2D) The third consideration is the extent to which the disclosure of the information mentioned in subsection (2C)(a) or (b) is necessary for the purposes of the report.]

(3) A report of the Commission on a reference under section 12 must be made to the CAA.

(4) The CAA—

(a) must on receiving such a report send a copy to the licence holder and a copy to the Secretary of State;

(b) must, after the end of the specified period, publish the report in such manner as the CAA considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it.

(5) But if the Secretary of State thinks that the publication of any matter would be against the public interest or any person’s commercial interests, he may before the end of the specified period give a direction to the CAA requiring it to exclude the matter from every copy of the report to be published as mentioned above.

(6) The specified period is the period of 14 days starting with the day after the Secretary of State receives the copy under subsection (4).

Annotations:

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Amendments (Textual)

F1 S. 13(1A)(1B) inserted (prosp.) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 44(4)(a)

F2 S. 13(2)-(2D) substituted (prosp.) for s. 13(2) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 44(4)(b)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 13 wholly in force at 1.2.2001, see s. 275(1)(2) and S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to the transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II)