Financial Services and Markets Act 2000

Role of [F1 Office of Fair Trading] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 303: cross-heading substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(f); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

303 Initial report by [F2 OFT]. U.K.

(1) The Authority must send to the Treasury and to the [F3 OFT] a copy of any regulatory provisions with which it is provided on an application for recognition under section 287 or 288.

(2) The Authority must send to the [F4 OFT] such information in its possession as a result of the application for recognition as it considers will assist [F5 the OFT] in discharging [F6 its] functions in connection with the application.

(3) The [F7 OFT] must issue a report as to whether—

(a) a regulatory provision of which a copy has been sent to [F8 it] under subsection (1) has a significantly adverse effect on competition; or

(b) a combination of regulatory provisions so copied to [F8 it] have such an effect.

(4) If the [F9 OFT’s] conclusion is that one or more provisions have a significantly adverse effect on competition, [F10 it] must state [F11 its] reasons for that conclusion.

(5) When the [F12 OFT] issues a report under subsection (3), [F13 the OFT] must send a copy of it to the Authority, the Competition Commission and the Treasury.

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 303: words in sidenote substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(f); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F3 Words in s. 303(1) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(a); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F4 Words in s. 303(2) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(b); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F5 Words in s. 303(2) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(b); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F6 Word in s. 303(2) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(b); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F7 Words in s. 303(3) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(c); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F8 Word in s. 303(3) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(c); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F9 Words in s. 303(4) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(d); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F10 Word in s. 303(4) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(d); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F11 Word in s. 303(4) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(d); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F12 Words in s. 303(5) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(e); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F13 Words in s. 303(5) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(10)(e); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

304 Further reports by [F14 OFT]. U.K.

(1) The [F14 OFT] must keep under review the regulatory provisions and practices of recognised bodies.

(2) If at any time the [F14 OFT] considers that—

(a) a regulatory provision or practice has a significantly adverse effect on competition, or

(b) regulatory provisions or practices, or a combination of regulating provisions and practices have such an effect,

[F15 the OFT] must make a report.

(3) If at any time the [F14 OFT] considers that—

(a) a regulatory provision or practice does not have a significantly adverse effect on competition, or

(b) regulatory provisions or practices, or a combination of regulatory provisions and practices do not have any such effect,

[F15 the OFT] may make a report to that effect.

(4) A report under subsection (2) must contain details of the adverse effect on competition.

(5) If the [F14 OFT] makes a report under subsection (2), [F15 the OFT] must—

(a) send a copy of it to the Treasury, to the Competition Commission and to the Authority; and

(b) publish it in the way appearing to [F16 the OFT] to be best calculated to bring it to the attention of the public.

(6) If the [F14 OFT] makes a report under subsection (3)—

(a) [F15 the OFT] must send a copy of it to the Treasury, to the Competition Commission and to the Authority; and

(b) [F15 the OFT] may publish it.

(7) Before publishing a report under this section, the [F14 OFT] must, so far as practicable, exclude any matter which relates to the private affairs of a particular individual the publication of which, in the opinion of the [F14 OFT], would or might seriously and prejudicially affect his interests.

(8) Before publishing such a report, the [F14 OFT] must exclude any matter which relates to the affairs of a particular body the publication of which, in the opinion of the [F14 OFT], would or might seriously and prejudicially affect its interests.

(9) Subsections (7) and (8) do not apply to the copy of a report which the [F14 OFT] is required to send to the Treasury, the Competition Commission and the Authority under subsection (5)(a) or (6)(a).

(10) For the purposes of the law of defamation, absolute privilege attaches to any report of the [F14 OFT] under this section.

Textual Amendments

F14 Words in s. 304 substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(11)(a); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F15 Words in s. 304 substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(11)(a); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F16 Words in s. 304(5)(b) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(11)(b); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

305 Investigations by [F17 OFT]. U.K.

(1) For the purpose of investigating any matter with a view to its consideration under section 303 or 304, the [F17 OFT] may exercise the powers conferred on [F18 it] by this section.

(2) The [F17 OFT] may by notice in writing require any person to produce to [F18 it] or to a person appointed by [F18 it] for the purpose, at a time and place specified in the notice, any document which—

(a) is specified or described in the notice; and

(b) is a document in that person’s custody or under his control.

(3) The [F17 OFT] may by notice in writing—

(a) require any person carrying on any business to provide [F18 it] with such information as may be specified or described in the notice; and

(b) specify the time within which, and the manner and form in which, any such information is to be provided.

(4) A requirement may be imposed under subsection (2) or (3)(a) only in respect of documents or information which relate to any matter relevant to the investigation.

(5) If a person (“the defaulter”) refuses, or otherwise fails, to comply with a notice under this section, the [F17 OFT] may certify that fact in writing to the court and the court may enquire into the case.

(6) If, after hearing any witness who may be produced against or on behalf of the defaulter and any statement which may be offered in defence, the court is satisfied that the defaulter did not have a reasonable excuse for refusing or otherwise failing to comply with the notice, the court may deal with the defaulter as if he were in contempt.

(7) In this section, “the court” means—

(a) the High Court; or

(b) in Scotland, the Court of Session.

Textual Amendments

F17 Words in s. 305 substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(12); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F18 Word in s. 305 substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 40(12); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 305 wholly in force at 1.12.2001; s. 305 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 431(2); s. 305 in force for specified purposes at 3.9.2001 by S.I. 2001/2632, art. 2(2), Sch. Pt. 2; s. 305 in force in so far as not already in force at 1.12.2001 by S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)