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Counter-Inflation Act 1973

1973 CHAPTER 9

An Act to establish a Price Commission and a Pay Board; to authorise the formulation of the principles to be applied by those bodies; to afford powers of control over prices, pay, dividends and rents; to provide for the furnishing of information about rates; and for connected purposes.

[22nd March 1973]

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1The Act as remaining in force immediately before the passing of the Competition Act 1980 repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), s. 33(4)(5), Sch. 2: by S.I. 1980/497 it is provided that s. 33(4) and Sch. 2 are in force except so far as relating to ss. 17(6)(8)(9), 18(4)(5), 19, 20(4)(5)(i)(iii)(7), 23(2), Sch. 4 para. 4 (except sub-paragraph (2)(b)): in the case of which the repeal comes into force on 1.1.2011.

Parts I—IVU.K.

1

(1)(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(3)(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

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

2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3U.K.

3, 4.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4U.K.

Textual Amendments

5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5U.K.

6

(1)—(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6

(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F7

7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8U.K.

Textual Amendments

8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F9U.K.

Textual Amendments

9, 10.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F10U.K.

11—13.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F11U.K.

Textual Amendments

14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F12U.K.

Part VU.K. Supplemental

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2Pt. V repealed so far as unrepealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), ss. 33(5), Sch. 2 (the repeal being in force except as regards ss. 17(6)(8)(9), 18(4)(5), 19, 20(4)(5)(i)(iii)(7), 23(2) and Sch. 4 para. 4(1)(2)(a)(c)-(f)(3)(4): in the case of these excepted provisions the repeal is expressed by S.I. 1980/497 to come into operation on 1.1.2011)

15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F13U.K.

16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14U.K.

Textual Amendments

17 OffencesU.K.

(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15

(2)—(4).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F16

(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15

(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F17where an offence under this Act [F18or the M1Price Commission Act 1977] committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. [F18Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, the preceding provisions of this subsection shall apply in relation to acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate.]

(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F19

(8)Nothing contained in or having effect under this Act [F20or the M2Price Commission Act 1977], and nothing made illegal by this section, shall give rise to any criminal or tortious liability for conspiracy, or to any other liability in tort . . . F21

(9)Proceedings for an offence under this Act shall not be instituted in England or Wales except by or with the consent of the Attorney General, or in Northern Ireland except by or with the consent of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland [F22and in any such proceedings it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.]

(10). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F19

Textual Amendments

F18Words inserted by Price Commission Act 1977 (c. 33,), Sch. 2 para. 4(b) (Sch. 2 para. 4(b) is repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and by S.I. 1980/497 it is provided that the repeal comes into operation on 1.1.2011)

F20Words inserted by Price Commission Act 1977 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 4(c) (Sch. 2 para. 4(c) is repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2: in S.I. 1980/497 it is provided that the repeal by Sch. 2 of the 1980 Act so far as relating to s. 17(8) of the Counter Inflation Act 1973 comes into force on 1.1.2011)

F22Words inserted by Price Commission Act 1977 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 4(d) (Sch. 2 para. 4(d) is repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and by S.I. 1980/497 it is provided that the repeal comes into operation on 1.1.2011)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3S. 17(6)(8)(9) repealed (1.1.2011) by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), s. 33(4), Sch. 2 and S.I 1980/497

Marginal Citations

18 Offences by unincorporated bodies.U.K.

(1)—(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F23

(4)Where an offence is alleged to have been committed under this Act by an unincorporated body . . . F24

(a)proceedings for the offence shall be brought in the name of that body (and not in that of any of its members),

(b)for the purpose of any such proceedings any rules of court relating to the service of documents shall have effect as if that body were a corporation, and

(c)any fine imposed on conviction shall be enforceable, by way of execution, diligence or otherwise, against the funds of that body.

(5)Where an offence mentioned in subsection (4) above is an offence punishable on conviction on indictment, section 33 of the M3Criminal Justice Act 1925 and [F25Schedule 3 to the M4Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980] shall have effect as if the said body were a corporation.

(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F23

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Marginal Citations

19 Application to Scotland. U.K.

(1)The provisions of this section shall have effect for the application of this Act to Scotland.

(2)(a)Where an offence mentioned in section 18(4) of this Act is an offence punishable on conviction on indictment [F26section 74 of the M5Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975] (proceedings on indictment against bodies corporate) shall have effect as if the said body were a body corporate.

(b)Section 17(8) of this Act shall not apply but nothing contained in, or having effect under, this Act or made illegal by that section shall be relevant for the purposes of any proceedings in reparation . . . F27

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5S. 19 repealed (1.1.2011) by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), s. 33 (4), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

Marginal Citations

20 Application to Northern Ireland.U.K.

(1)(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F28

(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F29

(4)Where an offence mentioned in section 18(4) of this Act is an offence punishable on conviction on indictment, section 18 of the M6Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 and [F30Schedule 4 to the M7Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981] (procedure on charge of an offence against a corporation) shall have effect as if the body there mentioned were a corporation.

(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F31

(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F31

(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F32

and Schedule 4 to this Act shall apply as if

(i)for references to a local weights and measures authority and to an inspector or chief inspector appointed under the Weights and M8Measures Act 1963 there were substituted respectively references to the Ministry of Commerce for Northern Ireland and any of its officers;

(ii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F33

(iii)references in paragraph 4 to a Minister of the Crown included references to a Minister of Northern Ireland and to a department of the Government of Northern Ireland.

(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F28

(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F34

(8). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F29

Textual Amendments

F30Words substituted by S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26) art. 170 (2), Sch. 6 Pt. I para. 29

F31Words and s. 20 (5) (a) repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21. SIF 124:1), Sch. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7S. 20(5) (i): the reference to Ministry of Commerce for Northern Ireland to be construed as a reference to Department of Economic Development for Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36, SIF 29:3), Sch. 5 para. 8(1) and S.I. 1982/846 (N.I. 11), arts. 4, 5(1)

Marginal Citations

21, 22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F35U.K.

23 Short title, supplemental provisions and repeals.U.K.

(1) [F36This Act may be cited as the Counter-Inflation Act 1973.]

(2)Schedules 3 and 4 to this Act (provisions about orders and notices, and about enforcement) shall have effect for supplementing this Act.

(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F36

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1U.K.

1U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F37

2(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F38U.K.

(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F39

Textual Amendments

F39Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

3(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F40U.K.

(2)—(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F41

Textual Amendments

F41Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

4—8.U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F42

Textual Amendments

F42Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

9U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F43

Textual Amendments

F43Sch. 1 para. 9 repealed by House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24, SIF 89), Sch. 3 and Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25 SIF 29:3), Sch. 3 Pt.I

10—19.U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F44

Textual Amendments

F44Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

20U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F45

SCHEDULE 2U.K. . . . F46

Textual Amendments

F46Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

SCHEDULE 3U.K.

Part IU.K.

1(1)(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F47U.K.

(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F48

(4)—(10). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F47

Textual Amendments

F47Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

2U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F49

Textual Amendments

F49Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

3(1)(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F50U.K.

(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F51

(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F50

Textual Amendments

F50Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

4, 5.U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F52

Textual Amendments

F52Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

6U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F53

7U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F54

Textual Amendments

F54Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

Part IIU.K.

8(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F55U.K.

(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F56

Textual Amendments

F55Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

9, 10.U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F57

Textual Amendments

F57Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

Section 23.

SCHEDULE 4U.K. Enforcement

1—3U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F58

Textual Amendments

F58Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

Restriction on disclosure of information obtained under this ActU.K.

4(1)This paragraph applies to information given or supplied pursuant to Part V of this Act, or obtained in the course of exercising the powers conferred by paragraph 3 above.U.K.

(2)No such information shall be disclosed except—

(a)with the consent of the person by whom or on whose behalf the information was given or supplied, or as the case may be the owner of the goods or the occupier of the land or premises, or

(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F59

(c)to any Minister of the Crown, or an officer or servant appointed by, or person exercising functions on behalf of, a Minister of the Crown, or

(d)in the case of information obtained by a person acting on behalf of a local weights and measures authority, to any officer of that authority, or

(e)with a view to the institution of, or otherwise for the purpose of, any criminal proceedings pursuant to or arising out of this Act, . . . F60[F61or the M9Price Commission Act 1977].

[F62, or

(f)for the purpose of facilitating the performance of any functions of the Price Commission].

(3)Sub-paragraph (2) above does not apply to information given or supplied to [F63the Price Commission] in proceedings to which the public are admitted, or contained in any report of [F63the Price Commission].

(4)If a person contravenes the provisions of this paragraph he shall be liable—

(a)on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £400, and

(b)on conviction on indictment to a fine.

Textual Amendments

F61Words inserted by Price Commission Act 1977 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 9(a) (Sch. 2 para. 9 is repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2: in S.I. 1980/497 it is provided that the repeal by Sch. 2 of the 1980 Act so far as relating to paragraph 4 of schedule 4 (except subparagraph (2)(b) of the Counter-Inflation Act 1973) comes into force on 1.1.2011)

F62Words inserted by Price Commission Act 1977 (c. 33), Sch. 2 para. 9(b) (Sch. 2 para. 9 is repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2: in S.I. 1980/497 it is provided that the repeal by Sch. 2 of the 1980 Act so far as relating to paragraph 4 of schedule 4 (except subparagraph (2)(b) of the Counter-Inflation Act 1973) comes into force on 1.1.2011)

F63Words substituted by S.I. 1974/1218, Sch. 1 para. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C9Para. 4(1)(2) (a) (c)–(f) (3) (4) repealed (1.1.2011) by Competition Act 1980 (c.21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

Marginal Citations

5U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F64

Textual Amendments

F64Sch. 1 paras. 2(2), 3(2)–(4), 4–8, 10–19, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 1(1)(2), (4)–(10), para. 2, para. 3(1)(2)(4) paras.4, 5, para. 7, Pt. II para. 8(1), paras. 9, 10, Sch. 4 paras. 1–3, 5, repealed by Competition Act 1980 (c. 21, SIF 124:1), Sch. 2 and S.I. 1980/497

SCHEDULE 5U.K. . . . F65

Textual Amendments

SCHEDULE 6U.K. . . . F66