Enterprise Act 2002

132 Ministerial power to make references U.K.

(1) Subsection (3) applies where, in relation to any goods or services[F1 —

(a)] the appropriate Minister is not satisfied with a decision of the [F2 CMA] not to make a reference under section 131[F3 ; and

(b) in a case in which the CMA has published a market study notice under section 130A, the period permitted by section 131B for the preparation and publication by the CMA of the market study report has expired.]

(2) Subsection (3) also applies where, in relation to any goods or services, the appropriate Minister—

(a) has brought to the attention of the [F2 CMA] information which the appropriate Minister considers to be relevant to the question of whether the [F2 CMA] should make a reference under section 131; but

(b) is not satisfied that the [F2 CMA] will decide, within such period as the appropriate Minister considers to be reasonable, whether [F4 to publish a market study notice in relation to the matter concerned].

(3) The appropriate Minister may, subject to subsection (4), make a reference to the [F5 chair of the CMA for the constitution of a group under Schedule 4 to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013] if he has reasonable grounds for suspecting that any feature, or combination of features, of a market in the United Kingdom for goods or services prevents, restricts or distorts competition in connection with the supply or acquisition of any goods or services in the United Kingdom or a part of the United Kingdom.

[F6 (3A) In a case where the feature or each of the features concerned falls within section 131(2)(b) or (c), a reference under subsection (3) may be made in relation to more than one market in the United Kingdom for goods or services.]

(4) No reference shall be made under this section if[F7 —

(a)] the making of the reference is prevented by [F8 section 156(A1) or (1)][F9 ; or

(b) a reference has been made under section 140A(6) in relation to the same matter but has not been finally determined.]

(5) In this Part “the appropriate Minister” means—

(a) the Secretary of State; F10 ...

(b) the Secretary of State and one or more than one other Minister of the Crown acting jointly;

[F11 (c) the Scottish Ministers and the Secretary of State acting jointly; or

(d) the Scottish Ministers, the Secretary of State and one or more than one other Minister of the Crown, acting jointly.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in s. 132(1) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 12 para. 10(2)(a); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F2 Word in s. 132(1)(2) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 164(2) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F3 S. 132(1)(b) and word inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 12 para. 10(2)(b); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F4 Words in s. 132(2)(b) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 12 para. 10(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F5 Words in s. 132(3) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 164(3) (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F6 S. 132(3A) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 34(2), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)

F7 Words in s. 132(4) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 10 para. 3(a); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F8 Words in s. 132(4) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 34(3), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)

F9 Words in s. 132(4) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 10 para. 3(b); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F10 Word in s. 132(5) omitted (23.5.2016) by virtue of Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 63(a), 72(7)

F11 S. 132(5)(c)(d) inserted (23.5.2016) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 63(b), 72(7)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 4 modified by 2012 c. 7, s. 73(3)(b) (as substituted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 189(4)(c) (with art. 3))

C2 Pt. 4 modified by 2000 c. 38, s. 86(4A) (as inserted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 154(6) (with art. 3))

C3 Pt. 4 modified (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 4 para. 57; S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(c) (with Sch.)

C4 Pt. 4 modified by 2012 c. 19, s. 60(3A) (as inserted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 197(5) (with art. 3))

C5 Pt. 4 certain functions made exercisable concurrently (1.4.2014) by Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c. 33), s. 59(1)-(5), 148(5); S.I. 2014/823, art.

C6 Pt. 4 modified by 1991 c. 56, s. 31(4) (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 84(5)(d) (with art. 3))

C7 Pt. 4 modified by 1989 c. 29, s. 43(2B) (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 65(4)(d) (with art. 3))

C8 Pt. 4 modified by 1986 c. 44, s. 36A (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 50(4)(d) (with art. 3))

C9 Pt. 4 modified by 1993 c. 43, s. 67(4)(d) (as amended (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 105(4)(d) (with art. 3))