Section 44: Investigation and report by OFT
155.This section sets out the duties of the OFT to report to the Secretary of State in a case where an intervention notice has been served.
156.Subsection (2) provides that the OFT will report to the Secretary of State within a deadline set by the Secretary of State. There is nothing to prevent the Secretary of State from altering the deadline if circumstances so require.
157.Subsections (3)–(7) ensure that the Secretary of State will receive information on at least two areas:
the OFT’s advice on any competition issues (including customer benefits, the importance of the market and the scope for undertakings-in-lieu if relevant), as well as its view on whether a relevant merger situation has or would be created; and
the OFT’s summary of the representations that it has received in relation to the public interest considerations mentioned in the intervention notice.