Fair Trading Act 1973

85 Attendance of witnesses and production of documents. U.K.

(1) For the purposes of any investigation on a reference made to them under this Act the Commission may, by notice in writingsigned on their behalf by any of their members or by their secretary,—

(a) require any person to attend at a time and place specified in the notice, and to give evidence to the Commission or a member of the Commission nominated by them for the purpose, or

(b) require any person to produce, at a time and place specified in the notice, to the Commission or to any person nominated by the Commission for the purpose, any documents which are specified or described in the notice and which are documents in his custody or under his control and relating to any matter relevant to the investigation, or

(c) require any person carrying on any business to furnish to the Commission such estimates, returns or other information as may be specified or described in the notice, and specify the time, the manner and the form in which any such estimates, returns or information are to be furnished.

(2) For the purposes of any such investigation the Commission, or a member of the Commission nominated by them for that purpose, may take evidence on oath, and for that purpose may administer oaths.

(3) No person shall be compelled for the purpose of any such investigation to give any evidence or produce any document which he could not be compelled to give or produce in civil proceedings before the court or, in complying with any requirement for the furnishing of information, to give any information which he could not be compelled to give in evidence in such proceedings.

(4) No person shall be required, in obedience to a notice under subsection (1) of this section, to go more than ten miles from his place of residence unless the necessary expenses of his attendance are paid or tendered to him.

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(6) Any person who—

(a) wilfully alters, suppresses or destroys any document which he has been required by any such notice to produce, . . . F2

(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £400 or, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.

[F3 (7) If any person (referred to in subsection (7A) of this section as “the defaulter”) refuses or otherwise fails to comply with any notice under subsection (1) of this section, any one of those who, in relation to the investigation in question, are performing the functions of the Commission may certify that fact in writing to the court and the court may enquire into the case.

(7A) 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 without reasonable excuse refuse or otherwise fail to comply with the notice, the court may punish the defaulter (and, in the case of a body corporate, any director or officer) in like manner as if the defaulter had been guilty of contempt of court.]

(8) In this section “the court”—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, means the High Court;

(b) in relation to Scotland, means the Court of Session; and

(c) in relation to Northern Ireland, means the High Court or a judge of the High Court.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 85(5) repealed by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 153, 212, Sch. 20 para. 13(2), Sch. 24

F2 Word “or” and s. 85(6)(b) repealed by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 153, 212, Sch. 20 para. 13(2), Sch. 24

F3 S. 85(7)(7A) substituted by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), s. 153, Sch. 20 para. 13(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 85 applied with modifications (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56, SIF 130), ss. 14(7), 223(2) (with ss. 82(3), 186(1), 188, 222(1), Sch. 14 para. 6).

C2 S. 85 applied with modifications by Telecommunications Act 1984 (c. 12, SIF 96), s. 13(9)

S. 85 applied with modifications (E.W.S.) by Airports Act 1986 (c. 31, SIF 9), s. 44(3)

S. 85 applied with modifications (E.W.S.) by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), ss. 24(7), 48(3)(4)

S. 85 applied with modifications (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 16(7)

S. 85 applied with modifications (E.W.S.) by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 12(8)

S. 85 modified by Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42, SIF 96), s. 39, Sch. 4 para. 4(7)(a)

S. 85 extended (4.4.1980) by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21), s. 11(9) and extended ibid., ss. 7(6), 33(5)

S. 85 (6)-(8) applied by Financial Services Act 1986 (c. 60, SIF 69), ss. 123(3), 140, Sch. 11 para. 36(2)

S. 85(6)-(8) applied with modifications by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), s. 47(1), Sch. 14 para. 4(5)

S. 85(6)-(8) applied (S.) (30.9.1991) by Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 (c. 40, SIF 76:2), s. 41(3); S.I. 1991/2151, art. 3, Sch.

S. 85(6)-(8) applied (S.) (3.6.1991) by Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 46, SIF 76:2), s. 64C(3) (As inserted (3.6.1991) by LAw Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 (c. 40, SIF 76:2), s. 43; S.I. 1991/1252, art.3, Sch. I

S. 85(6)-(8) applied (E.W.) (prosp) by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 76:1), ss. 46(3), 124(3)

S. 85(6)-(8) applied with modifications by Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42, SIF 96), s. 39, Sch. 4 para. 8(3)

S. 85(6)-(8) applied with modifications by S.I. 1990/593 (N.I.5), art. 49(1), Sch. 14 para. 4(5)

S. 85(6)-(8) extended with modifications by S.I. 1990/1715, reg. 3(1)

S. 85 extended with modifications (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1), art. 15(8); S.R. 1992/117, art.3(1)

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (1.4.1994) by 1993 c. 43, ss. 13(8)(9), 154(2).

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (1.9.1995) by S.I. 1994/426 (N.I. 1), art. 35(3); S.R. 1995/294, art. 2, Sch.

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (10.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), art. 15(9) (with Sch. 7 paras. 2, 3(2)); S.R. 1996/216, art. 2

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (28.8.1996) by S.I. 1996/2199, reg. 16

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (1.4.1999) by 1984 c. 12, s. 13(9A) (as substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 9(2) (with s. 73); S.I. 1999/505, art. 2, Sch. 2)

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (1.4.1999) by 1986 c. 44, s. 24(7A) (as substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 10(2) (with s. 73); S.I. 1999/505, art. 2, Sch. 2)

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (1.4.1999) by 1989 c. 29, s. 12(8A) (as substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 12(2) (with s. 73); S.I. 1999/505, art. 2, Sch. 2)

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (1.4.1999) by 1991 c. 56, s. 14(7A) (as substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 13(3) (with s. 73); S.I. 1999/505, art. 2, Sch. 2)

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (1.4.1999) by 1993 c. 43, s. 13(8A) (as substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 15(2) (with s. 73); S.I. 1999/505, art. 2, Sch. 2)

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1), art. 15(8A) (as substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 17(2) (with s. 73); S.I. 1999/505, art. 2, Sch. 2)

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), art. 15(9A) (with Sch. 7 paras. 2, 3(2)) (as substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 18(2) (with s. 73); S.I. 1999/505, art. 2, Sch. 2)

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (1.4.1999) by 1980 c. 21, s. 11(9A) (as substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 74(1), Sch. 12 para. 4(3) (with s. 73); S.I. 1999/505, art. 2, Sch. 2)

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (1.4.1999) by 1986 c. 31, s. 44(3A) (as substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 74(1), Sch. 12 para. 7(2) (with s. 73); S.I. 1999/505, art. 2, Sch. 2)

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (1.4.1999) by 1990 c. 42, Sch. 4 para. 4(7A) (as substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 74(1), Sch. 12 para. 14(3) (with s. 73); S.I. 1999/505, art. 2, Sch. 2)

S. 85 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1994/426 (N.I. 1), art. 35(3A) (as substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 74(1), Sch. 12 para. 20(2) (with s. 73); S.I. 1999/505, art. 2, Sch. 2)