Competition Act 1980

19 Restriction on disclosure of information. U.K.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, no information obtained under or by virtue of the preceding provisions of this Act about any business shall, so long as the business continues to be carried on, be disclosed without the consent of the person for the time being carrying it on.

(2) Subsection (1) above does not apply to any disclosure of information made—

(a) for the purpose of facilitating the performance of any functions under this Act or any of the enactments [F1 or subordinate legislation]specified in subsection (3) below of any Minister, any Northern Ireland department, the head of any such department, the Director [F2 the Director General of Telecommunications,][F3 the Director General of Gas Supply,][F4 the Civil Aviation Authority,][F5 the Director General of Water Services,][F6 the Director General of Electricity Supply [F7 the Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland][F8 or the Director General of Gas for Northern Ireland][F9 the Rail Regulator][F10 the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board][F11 the Coal Authority],],the Commission or a local weights and measures authority in Great Britain; or

(b) in connection with the investigation of any criminal offence or for the purposes of any criminal proceedings; or

(c) for the purposes of any civil proceedings brought under or by virtue of this Act or any of the enactments [F12 or subordinate legislation]specified in subsection (3) below; or

(d) in pursuance of a Community obligation.

(3) The enactments [F13 and subordinate legislation]referred to in subsection (2) above are—

(a) the M1 Trade Descriptions Act 1968;

(b) the M2 Fair Trading Act 1973;

(c) the M3 Consumer Credit Act 1974;

F14 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F14 (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(f) the M4 Estate Agents Act 1979.

[F15 (g) the Telecommunications Act 1984.]

[F16 (h) the Gas Act 1986.]

[F17 (hh) Chapter III of Part X (competition scrutiny of regulating provisions and practices of the Authority), and Chapter II of Part XVIII (competition scrutiny of regulatory provisions and practices of recognised clearing houses and recognised investment exchanges), of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;]

[F18 (i) the Airports Act 1986.]

[F19 (j) the Consumer Protection Act 1987.]

[F20 (k) the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988]

[F21 (k) the Consumer Protection (Northern Ireland) Order 1987.]

[F22 (l) the Water Act 1989.][F23 the Water Industry Act 1991 or any of the other consolidation Acts (within the meaning of section 206 of that Act of 1991)]

[F24 (m) the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990]

[F25 (m) the Electricity Act 1989.]

[F26 (n) the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992]

[F27 (n) the Broadcasting Act 1990]

[F28 (nn) the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996;]

[F29 (nn) Part IV of the Airports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994;]

[F30 (o) the Railways Act 1993]

[F31 (p) the Coal Industry Act 1994;]

[F32 (q) [F33 the EC Competition Law (Articles 84 and 85) Enforcement Regulations 2001];]

[F34 (r) the Competition Act 1998]

[F35 (s) Part I of the Transport Act 2000.]

(4) For the purpose of enabling information obtained under certain enactments to be used for facilitating the performance of functions under this Act, the following amendments shall be made in provisions respecting disclosure of information, namely—

(a) at the end of paragraph (aa) of the proviso to section 47(2) of the M5 Agricultural Marketing Act 1958 there shall be added the words “or the Competition Act 1980” ;

[F36 (b) at the end of paragraph (aaa) of section 23(2) of the M6 Agricultural Marketing Act (Northern Ireland) Act 1964 there shall be added the words “or the Competition Act 1980” ;]

(c) at the end of paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 133 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 there shall be added the words “the Competition Act 1980, or” ;

(d) in paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 174 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 after the words “Estate Agents Act 1979” there shall be added the words “or the Competition Act 1980” ;

(e) at the end of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 41 of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 there shall be added the words “or the Competition Act 1980” ; and

(f) in paragraph (a) of subsection 10 of the M7 Estate Agents Act 1979 after the words “Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976” there shall be added the words “or the Competition Act 1980”.

(5) Nothing in subsection (1) above shall be construed—

(a) as limiting the matters which may be included in any report of the Director or of the Commission made under this Act F37 . . .; or

(b) as applying to any information which has been made public as part of such a report or as part of the register kept for the purposes of the Act of 1976.

(6) Any person who discloses information in contravention of this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum and, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or both.

F38 (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Words inserted by S.I. 1988/915, art. 7(6)(e)(i)

F2 Words inserted by Telecommunications Act 1984 (c. 12, SIF 96), s. 109, Sch. 4 para. 73(1), Sch. 5 para. 45

F3 Words inserted by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(1), Sch. 7 para. 28(1)

F4 Words inserted by Airports Act 1986 (c. 31, SIF 9), s. 83(1), Sch. 4 para. 7(a)

F5 Words inserted (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 190(1), Sch. 25 para. 59(2)(a)

F6 Words inserted (E.W.S.) by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1), Sch. 16 para. 25(a)

F7 Words in s. 19(2)(a) inserted (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/231, art. 95(1), Sch. 12 para. 21(a); S.R. 1992/117, art. 3(1)

F8 Words in s. 19(2)(a) inserted (N.I.) (10.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/275, art. 71(1), Sch. 6 (with Sch. 2 paras. 2, 3(2)); S.R. 1996/216, art. 2

F9 Words in s. 19(2)(a) inserted (6.1.1994) by 1993 c. 43, s. 152(1), Sch. 12 para. 12(2) (with s. 150(1)(o)); S.I. 1993/3237, art. 2(2)

F10 Words inserted (prosp.) by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 37), ss. 124(3), 125(3), Sch. 18 para. 23(2)

F11 Words in s. 19(2)(a) inserted (31.10.1994) by 1994 c. 21, s. 67, Sch. 9 para. 23(1) (with s. 40(7)); S.I. 1994/2553, art. 2

F12 Words inserted by S.I. 1988/915, art. 7(6)(e)(i)

F13 Words inserted by S.I. 1988/915, art. 7(6)(e)(ii)

F14 S. 19(3)(d)(e) repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 74(1)(3), Sch. 12 para. 4(8), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.

F15 Para. (g) inserted in subsection (3) at the end by Telecommunications Act 1984 (c. 12, SIF 96), s. 109, Sch. 4 para. 73(2), Sch. 5 para. 45

F16 Para. (h) inserted (23.08.1986) in subsection (3) at the end by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(1), Sch. 7 para. 28(2) (Royal Assent 25.7.1986)

F17 S. 19(3)(hh) substituted (3.7.2002) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/1555), art. 8

F18 Para. (i) inserted (1.10.1986) after paragraph (h) by Airports Act 1986 (c. 31, SIF 9), s. 83(1), Sch. 4 para. 7(b) (Royal Assent 8.7.1986)

F19 Para. (j) inserted (1.10.1987) after paragraph (i) by Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c. 43, SIF 109:1), s. 48(1), Sch. 4 para. 7 (Royal Assent 15.5.1987)

F20 Words inserted (20.6.1988) after the words “Consumer Protection Act 1987” by S.I. 1988/915, art. 7(6)(e)(ii) (made 23.5.1988)

F21 Para. (k) inserted (1.3.1989) after paragraph (j) by S.I. 1987/2049 (N.I. 20), art. 35(1), Sch. 3 para. 5 (made 26.11.1987)

F22 Para. (l) inserted (1.9.1989) (E.W.) after paragraph (k) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), s. 190(1), Sch. 25 para. 59(2)(b) (Royal Assent 6.7.1989)

F23 Words in s. 19(3)(l) inserted (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 (c. 60, SIF 130), ss. 2, 4(2), Sch. 1 para. 34

F24 Para. (m) inserted (prosp.) after paragraph (l) by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 37), ss. 124(3), 125(3), Sch. 18 para. 23(3) (Royal Assent 1.11.1990)

F25 Para. (m) inserted (31.3.1990) (E.W.S.) after paragraph (l) by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1), Sch. 16 para. 25(b) (Royal Assent 27.7.1989)

F26 S. 19(3)(n) inserted (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/231, art. 95(1), Sch. 12 para. 21(b); S.R. 1992/117, art. 3(1)

F27 Para. (n) inserted (1.1.1991) after paragraph (m) by Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42, SIF 96), s. 203(1), Sch. 20 para. 28 (Royal Assent 1.11.1990)

F28 S. 19(3)(nn) inserted (N.I.) (10.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/275, art. 71(1), Sch. 6 (with Sch. 2 paras. 2, 3(2)); S.R. 1996/216, art. 2

F29 S. 19(3)(nn) inserted (N.I.) (1.9.1995) by S.I. 1994/426 (N.I. 1), art. 71(2), Sch. 9 para. 8 (with art. 16); S.R. 1995/294, art. 2, Sch.

F30 S. 19(3)(o) inserted (6.1.1994) by 1993 c. 43, s. 152(1), Sch. 12 para. 12(3) (with s. 150(1)(o)); S.I. 1993/3237, art. 2(2)

F31 S. 19(3)(p) inserted (31.10.1994) by 1994 c. 21, s. 67, Sch. 9 para. 23(2) (with s. 40(7)); S.I. 1994/2553, art. 2

F32 S. 19(3)(q) inserted (28.8.1996) by S.I. 1996/2199, reg. 29(3)

F33 Words in s. 19(3)(q) substituted (17.8.2001) by S.I. 2001/2916, reg. 35(2) (with regs. 34, 36)

F34 S. 19(3)(r) inserted (11.1.1999) by 1998 c. 41, s. 74(1), Sch. 12 para. 4(9) (with s. 73); S.I. 1998/3166, art. 2, Sch.

F35 S. 19(3)(s) inserted (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 97, Sch. 8 para. 12; S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings and transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

F36 S. 19(4)(b) repealed (prosp.) (but by S.R.s 1984 No. 422 and 1989 No. 47 the repeal came into operation in relation to the Pigs Marketing Board (Northern Ireland) on 31.12.1984 and in relation to the Milk Marketing Board for Northern Ireland on 1.4.1989 respectively) by S.I. 1982/1080 (N.I. 12), art. 46(2), Sch. 9

F37 Words in s. 19(5)(a) repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 74(1)(3), Sch. 12 para. 4(10), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.

F38 S. 19(7) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. XIV Gp. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 19 amended (E.W.S.) by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 43(3)

S. 19 amended (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56, SIF 130), ss. 31(4)(c), 35(4), 223(2) (with ss. 82(3), 186(1), 222(1), Sch. 14 para. 6)

C2 S. 19 modified (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/231, art. 46(3); S.I. 1992/117, art. 3(1)

C3 S. 19 amended (E.W.S.) (1.4.1994) by 1993 c. 43, s. 67(3)(4); S.I. 1994/571, art. 5

S. 19 amended (N.I.) (10.6.1996) by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), art. 23(3) (with Sch. 7 paras. 2, 3(2)); S.R. 1996/216, art. 2

C4 S. 19(1) excluded by Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42, SIF 96), s. 197(5)(c)

C5 The text of s. 19(4) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and, except as specified, does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

M1 1968 c. 29(109:1).

M2 1973 c. 41(124:1).

M3 1974 c. 39(60).

M4 1979 c. 38(124:4).

M5 1958 c. 47.

M6 1964 c. 13 (N.I.)

M7 1979 c. 38.