Part 4

Market Studies and Market Investigations
Chapter 1

Market Studies and market investigation references

Making of references

Ministerial power to make references
132
1
Subsection (3) applies where, in relation to any goods or services—
a
the appropriate Minister is not satisfied with a decision of the CMA not to make a reference under section 131; and
b
in a case in which the CMA has published a market study notice under section 130A, the period permitted by section 131B for the preparation and publication by the CMA of the market study report has expired.
2
Subsection (3) also applies where, in relation to any goods or services, the appropriate Minister—
a
has brought to the attention of the CMA information which the appropriate Minister considers to be relevant to the question of whether the CMA should make a reference under section 131; but
b
is not satisfied that the CMA will decide, within such period as the appropriate Minister considers to be reasonable, whether to publish a market study notice in relation to the matter concerned.
3
The appropriate Minister may, subject to subsection (4), make a reference to the chair of the CMA for the constitution of a group under Schedule 4 to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 if he has reasonable grounds for suspecting that any feature, or combination of features, of a market in the United Kingdom for goods or services prevents, restricts or distorts competition in connection with the supply or acquisition of any goods or services in the United Kingdom or a part of the United Kingdom.
3A
In a case where the feature or each of the features concerned falls within section 131(2)(b) or (c), a reference under subsection (3) may be made in relation to more than one market in the United Kingdom for goods or services.
4
No reference shall be made under this section if—
a
the making of the reference is prevented by section 156(A1) or (1); or
b
a reference has been made under section 140A(6) in relation to the same matter but has not been finally determined.
5
In this Part “the appropriate Minister” means—
a
the Secretary of State; ...
b
the Secretary of State and one or more than one other Minister of the Crown acting jointly;
c
the Scottish Ministers and the Secretary of State acting jointly; or
d
the Scottish Ministers, the Secretary of State and one or more than one other Minister of the Crown, acting jointly.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by 1988 c. 41, Sch. 7 para. 20(5)-(8) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 185, 279, Sch. 11 para. 11(3); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch. (with art. 8)
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), art. 23(2A)(2B) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 22(2)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by 1993 c. 43, s. 67(2A)(2B) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 21(2)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1), art. 46(2A)(2B) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 20(2)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by 1991 c. 56, s. 31(4) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 19(3)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by 1991 c. 56, s. 31(2A) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 19(2)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by 1984 c. 12, s. 50(2B) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 16(2)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (20.6.2003) by 1989 c. 29, s. 43(2B) (as substituted by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 18(2)); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (25.7.2003 for certain purposes and 29.12.2003 for certain purposes) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 370(3), 411(2)(3) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with arts. 3-6 (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2)
Pt. 4 (ss. 131-184) modified (N.I.) (1.4.2007) by The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/3336 (N.I. 21)), arts. 1(2)(3), 29(4) (with arts. 8(9), 121, 307); S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 2 (with Sch. 2)
Pt. 4 modified (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 73(3), 306(4); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)
Pt. 4 functions made exercisable concurrently (6.4.2013) by Civil Aviation Act 2012 (c. 19), ss. 60(2), 110(1) (with s. 77(1)-(3), Sch. 10 paras. 12, 17); S.I. 2013/589, art. 2(1)-(3)
Pt. 4 modified in part (6.4.2013) by Civil Aviation Act 2012 (c. 19), ss. 60(3), 110(1) (with ss. 60(4), 77(1)-(3), Sch. 10 paras. 12, 17); S.I. 2013/589, art. 2(1)-(3)
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.)
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.
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))
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))
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))
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))
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))
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))
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))
Words in Pt. 4 heading inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 12 para. 8; S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
Words in Pt. 4 Ch. 1 heading inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 12 para. 9; S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
S. 132(3A) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 34(2), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)
Word in s. 132(1)(2) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 164(2) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
Word in s. 132(1) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 12 para. 10(2)(a); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
S. 132(1)(b) and word inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 12 para. 10(2)(b); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
Words in s. 132(2)(b) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 12 para. 10(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
Words in s. 132(3) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 164(3) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
Words in s. 132(4) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 34(3), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)
Words in s. 132(4) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 10 para. 3(a); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
Words in s. 132(4) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 10 para. 3(b); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)
Word in s. 132(5) omitted (23.5.2016) by virtue of Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 63(a), 72(7)
S. 132(5)(c)(d) inserted (23.5.2016) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 63(b), 72(7)
Pt. 4: certain functions made exercisable concurrently (26.12.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 36(1)-(3), 334(3)(a) (with s. 38)