Enterprise Act 2002

174 [F1 Attendance of witnesses and production of documents etc.] U.K.

[F2 (1) For the purposes of this section, the permitted purposes are the following—

(a) assisting the CMA in carrying out its functions under section 5 in relation to a matter in a case where it has published a market study notice;

(b) assisting the CMA in carrying out any functions, including enforcement functions, exercisable by it under or by virtue of this Part in connection with a matter that is or has been the subject of a reference under section 131 or 132 or possible reference under section 131;

(c) assisting the CMA or the Secretary of State in carrying out any functions, including enforcement functions, of the CMA or (as the case may be) the Secretary of State under or by virtue of this Part in connection with a matter that is or has been the subject of a reference under section 140A(6) or possible reference under section 140A(5) or (6).

(2) The CMA may exercise any of the powers in subsections (3) to (5) for a permitted purpose.]

(3) The [F3 CMA] may give notice to any person requiring him—

(a) to attend at a time and [F4 at a place, or in a manner (which may be remote),] specified in the notice; and

(b) to give evidence to the [F3 CMA] or a person nominated by the [F3 CMA] for the purpose.

(4) The [F3 CMA] may give notice to any person requiring him—

(a) to produce any documents which—

(i) are specified or described in the notice, or fall within a category of document which is specified or described in the notice; and

(ii) are in that person’s custody or under his control; and

(b) to produce them at a time and place so specified and to a person so specified.

(5) The [F3 CMA] may give notice to any person who carries on any business requiring him—

(a) to supply to the [F3 CMA] such estimates, forecasts, returns or other information as may be specified or described in the notice; and

(b) to supply it at a time and place, and in a form and manner, so specified and to a person so specified.

(6) A notice under this section shall[F5 —

(a) specify the permitted purpose for which the notice is given, including the function or functions in question; and

(b)] include information about the possible consequences of not complying with the notice

[F6 (6A) The CMA or any person nominated by it for the purpose may, for a permitted purpose, take evidence on oath and for that purpose may administer oaths.]

(7) The person to whom any document is produced in accordance with a notice under this section may, for [F7 a permitted purpose], copy the document so produced.

(8) No person shall be required under this section—

(a) to give any evidence or produce any documents which he could not be compelled to give or produce in civil proceedings before the court; or

(b) to supply any information which he could not be compelled to supply in evidence in such proceedings.

(9) No person shall be required, in compliance with a notice under this section, to go more than 10 miles from his place of residence unless his necessary travelling expenses are paid or offered to him.

[F8 (9A) In subsection (1), “enforcement functions” means—

(a) in relation to the CMA—

(i) functions conferred by virtue of section 164(2)(b) on the CMA by enforcement orders;

(ii) functions of the CMA in relation to the variation, supersession or release of enforcement undertakings or the variation or revocation of enforcement orders;

(iii) functions of the CMA under or by virtue of section 160 or 162 in relation to enforcement undertakings or enforcement orders;

(b) in relation to the Secretary of State—

(i) functions conferred by virtue of section 164(2)(b) on the Secretary of State by enforcement orders;

(ii) functions of the Secretary of State in relation to the variation, supersession or release of enforcement undertakings or the variation or revocation of enforcement orders;

(iii) functions of the Secretary of State under or by virtue of section 160 in relation to enforcement undertakings or enforcement orders.]

(10) Any reference in this section to the production of a document includes a reference to the production of a legible and intelligible copy of information recorded otherwise than in legible form.

(11) In this section “the court” means—

(a) in relation to England and Wales or Northern Ireland, the High Court; and

(b) in relation to Scotland, the Court of Session.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 174 heading substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 36(7), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)

F2 S. 174(1)(2) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 36(2), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)

F3 Word in s. 174(3)-(5) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 204 (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F4 Words in s. 174(3)(a) substituted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), ss. 142(6), 339(1); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(2)

F5 Words in s. 174(6) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 36(3), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)

F6 S. 174(6A) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 36(4), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)

F7 Words in s. 174(7) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 36(5), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)

F8 S. 174(9A) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 36(6), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 174 modified by 2007 c. 29, s. 57(5) (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 176(2)(b) (with art. 3, Sch. 2 para. 4))

C2 Pt. 4 modified by 2012 c. 7, s. 73(3)(b) (as substituted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 189(4)(c) (with art. 3))

C3 Pt. 4 modified by 2000 c. 38, s. 86(4A) (as inserted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 154(6) (with art. 3))

C4 Pt. 4 modified (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 4 para. 57; S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(c) (with Sch.)

C5 Pt. 4 modified by 2012 c. 19, s. 60(3A) (as inserted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 197(5) (with art. 3))

C6 Pt. 4 certain functions made exercisable concurrently (1.4.2014) by Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c. 33), s. 59(1)-(5), 148(5); S.I. 2014/823, art.

C7 Pt. 4 modified by 1991 c. 56, s. 31(4) (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 84(5)(d) (with art. 3))

C8 Pt. 4 modified by 1989 c. 29, s. 43(2B) (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 65(4)(d) (with art. 3))

C9 Pt. 4 modified by 1986 c. 44, s. 36A (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 50(4)(d) (with art. 3))

C10 Pt. 4 modified by 1993 c. 43, s. 67(4)(d) (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 105(4)(d) (with art. 3))

C11 S. 174 savings for effect of 2013 c. 24, s. 36, Sch. 11 (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 3 (with art. 3)