The Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001

3.—(1) The Treasury shall before deciding—

(a) whether to refuse to approve a person as Operator of a relevant system pursuant to paragraph 1(1); or

(b) whether to refuse leave for the granting of an approval pursuant to paragraph 2(2),

send to the Director General of Fair Trading (in this Schedule referred to as “the Director”) a copy of the rules and of any guidance which the Treasury are required to consider in making that decision together with such other information as the Treasury consider will assist in discharging his functions under subparagraph (2).

(2) The Director shall report to the Treasury whether, in his opinion, the rules and guidance copies of which are sent to him under subparagraph (1) have, or are intended or likely to have, to any significant extent the effect of restricting, distorting or preventing competition and, if so, what that effect is likely to be; and in making any decision as is mentioned in subparagraph (1) the Treasury shall have regard to the Director’s report.

(3) The Treasury shall send to the Director copies of any notice received by them under regulation 10(5) or paragraph 2(3) together with such other information as the Treasury consider will assist the Director in discharging his functions under subparagraphs (4) and (5).

(4) The Director shall keep under review—

(a) the rules, guidance and practices mentioned in paragraph 1(2); and

(b) the matters specified in the notices of which copies are sent to him under subparagraph (3),

and if at any time he is of the opinion that any such rules or guidance taken together with any such matters, have, or are intended or likely to have, to any significant extent the effect mentioned in subparagraph (2), he shall report his opinion to the Treasury stating what in his opinion that effect is or is likely to be.

(5) The Director may report to the Treasury his opinion that any such matter as is mentioned in subparagraph (4)(b) does not in his opinion have, and is not intended or likely to have, to any significant extent the effect mentioned in subparagraph (2).

(6) The Director may from time to time consider whether any such practices as are mentioned in paragraph 1(2) have, or are intended or likely to have, to any significant extent the effect mentioned in subparagraph (2) and, if so, what that effect is or is likely to be; and if he is of that opinion he shall make a report to the Treasury stating his opinion and what the effect is or is likely to be.

(7) The Treasury shall not exercise their powers under paragraph 1(3) or 2(4) except after receiving a report from the Director under subparagraph (4) or (6).

(8) The Director may, if he thinks fit, publish any report made by him under this paragraph but shall exclude from a published report, so far as practicable, any matter which relates to the affairs of a particular person (other than the person seeking approval as an Operator) the publication of which would or might in his opinion seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that person.