Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 Explanatory Notes

CMA recommendations

Section 37: CMA to publish recommendations on proposals for Westminster legislation

244.This section amends section 7 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (provision by CMA of information and advice to Ministers etc.) to give the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) a power to publish recommendations about the impact on competition of legislative proposals. The use of this power is entirely at the discretion of the CMA.

245.The aim of the power is to improve the compatibility of legislation with Government’s commitment to competition and competitive markets, with the associated benefits for consumers and growth.

246.The power extends to both primary and secondary legislation that is proposed by the UK Government. It does not extend to existing legislation, unless there are proposals to change existing legislation.

247.Recommendations by the CMA are to relate to the impact of legislative proposals on competition in any market or markets within the United Kingdom (including markets operating partly in the UK and partly in another country and markets operating in only one part of the UK).

248.The recommendations are to be made to the Minister of the Crown proposing the legislation, and they are to be published in such a way as to bring them to the attention of persons likely to be affected by them.

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