Communications Act 2003

62 (1) The Secretary of State may, instead of any or all of the conditions attached to a consent given by him (or treated as so given) under section 58 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 (c. 41)), accept undertakings under this paragraph to take, or refrain from taking, action specified or described in the undertakings. U.K.

(2) If, and so far as, the Secretary of State accepts an undertaking under this paragraph instead of a condition, that condition shall cease to have effect.

(3) In deciding whether to accept an undertaking under this paragraph, the Secretary of State may, in particular, consult the Office of Fair Trading and OFCOM.

(4) An undertaking under this paragraph—

(a) shall come into force when accepted;

(b) may be varied or superseded by another undertaking; and

(c) may be released by the Secretary of State.

(5) The Secretary of State shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, consider any representations received by him in relation to varying or releasing an undertaking under this paragraph.

(6) Paragraph 10 of Schedule 7 to the Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40) (order-making power where final undertakings not fulfilled) shall apply in relation to an undertaking under this paragraph as it applies in relation to an undertaking under paragraph 9 of that Schedule to that Act but as if—

(a) in sub-paragraph (2) the words from “for any” to “66(6)” were omitted; and

(b) sub-paragraph (3) were omitted.

(7) The following provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40) shall apply in relation to an undertaking under this paragraph or an order made by virtue of sub-paragraph (6) as they apply in relation to an undertaking under paragraph 9 of Schedule 7 to that Act or (as the case may be) an order under paragraph 10 of that Schedule to that Act—

(a) section 90 and Schedule 10 (procedural requirements for certain undertakings and orders);

(b) section 91 (register of undertakings and orders);

(c) section 92 (duty of OFT to monitor undertakings and orders);

(d) section 93 (further role of OFT in relation to undertakings and orders); and

(e) section 94 (rights to enforce undertakings and orders).

(8) Section 402 of this Act shall not apply in relation to the power of the Secretary of State to make an order which is exercisable by virtue of sub-paragraph (6) but supplementary provisions of Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002 which relate to the making of an order under paragraph 10 of Schedule 7 to that Act shall apply in relation to the making of an order by virtue of sub-paragraph (6).

(9) Section 402 of this Act shall not apply in relation to the power of the Secretary of State to make an order under section 91(6)(a) of the Enterprise Act 2002 as applied by virtue of sub-paragraph (7)(b) above but supplementary provisions of Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002 which relate to the making of an order under section 91(6)(a) of that Act shall apply in relation to the making of an order under that provision as applied by virtue of sub-paragraph (7)(b) above.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 18 para. 62 in force at 29.12.2003 by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 11)