Water Industry Act 1991

31 Functions of [F1 Authority] with respect to competition. E+W

(1) F2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F3 (2) The functions to which subsection (2A) below applies shall be concurrent functions of [F1 the Authority] and the OFT.

(2A) This subsection applies to the functions of the OFT under Part 4 of the 2002 Act (other than sections 166 and 171) so far as relating to commercial activities connected with the supply of water or the provision of sewerage services.]

[F4 (3) [F1 the Authority] shall be entitled to exercise, concurrently with the OFT, the functions of the OFT under the provisions of Part 1 of the Competition Act 1998 (other than sections 31D(1) to (6), 38(1) to (6) and 51), so far as relating to —

(a) agreements, decisions or concerted practices of the kind mentioned in section 2(1) of that Act,

(b) conduct of the kind mentioned in section 18(1) of that Act,

(c) agreements, decisions or concerted practices of the kind mentioned in Article 81(1) of the treaty establishing the [F5 European Union], or

(d) conduct which amounts to abuse of the kind mentioned in Article 82 of the treaty establishing the [F5 European Union],

which relate to commercial activities connected with the supply of water or securing a supply of water or with the provision or securing of sewerage services.]

[F6 (4) So far as necessary for the purposes of, or in connection with, subsections (2) and (2A) above, references in Part 4 of the 2002 Act to the OFT (including references in provisions of that Act applied by that Part) shall be construed as including references to [F1 the Authority] (except in sections 166 and 171 of that Act and in any other provision of that Act where the context otherwise requires).]

F7 [(4A) So far as necessary for the purposes of, or in connection with, the provisions of subsection (3) above, references in Part I of the Competition Act 1998 to [F8 the OFT] are to be read as including a reference to [F1 the Authority] ([F9 except in sections 31D(1) to (6), 38(1) to (6)] , 51, 52(6) and (8) and 54 of that Act and in any other provision of that Act where the context otherwise requires).]

[F10 (5) Before the OFT or [F1 the Authority] first exercises in relation to any matter functions which are exercisable concurrently by virtue of subsection (2) above, that person shall consult the other.

(6) Neither the OFT nor [F1 the Authority] shall exercise in relation to any matter functions which are exercisable concurrently by virtue of subsection (2) above if functions which are so exercisable have been exercised in relation to that matter by the other.]

(7) It shall be the duty of [F1 the Authority], for the purpose of assisting the [F11 Competition Commission] in carrying out an investigation on a reference made to them by [F1 the Authority] by virtue of subsection (2) F12 . . . above, to give to the Commission—

(a) any information which is in [F1 its] possession and which relates to matters falling within the scope of the investigation, and which is either requested by the Commission for that purpose or is information which in [F1 its] opinion it would be appropriate for that purpose to give to the Commission without any such request; and

(b) any other assistance which the Commission may require, and which it is within [F1 its] power to give, in relation to any such matters;

and the Commission shall, for the purposes of carrying out any such investigation, take into account any information given to them for that purpose under this subsection.

(8) If any question arises as to whether subsection (2) or (3) above F13 . . . applies to any particular case, that question shall be referred to and determined by the Secretary of State; and no objection shall be taken to anything done under—

(a) [F14 Part 4 of the 2002 Act]; or

F15 [(b) Part I of the Competition Act 1998 ([F16 other than sections 31D(1) to (6), 38(1) to (6)] and 51),]

by or in relation to [F1 the Authority] on the ground that it should have been done by or in relation to [F17 the OFT] .

[F18 (8A) Section 117 of the 2002 Act (offences of supplying false or misleading information) as applied by section 180 of that Act shall have effect so far as relating to functions exercisable by [F1 the Authority] by virtue of subsection (2) above as if the references in section 117(1)(a) and (2) to the OFT included references to [F1 the Authority].]

(9) F19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Act substituted (1.4.2006) by virtue of Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 36(2), 105(3); S.I. 2005/2714, art. 4(c)

F2 S. 31(1) ceases to have effect (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. (8)(a), Sch. 26; S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with transitional and transitory provisions in art. 3)

F3 S. 31(2)(2A) substituted (20.6.2003) for s. 31(2) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 19(2); S.I. 2003/ 1397, {art. 2(1)}, Sch.

F4 S. 31(3) substituted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 5, Sch. 2 para.4(2)(a)

F5 Words in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 2, 3, 4 (with art. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5))

F6 S. 31(4) substituted (20.6.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 19(3); S.I. 2003/ 1397, {art. 2(1)}, Sch.

F7 S. 31(4A) inserted (26.11.1998 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. II para. 5(5)(8) (with s. 73); S.I. 1997/2750, art. 2(1); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2 Sch.

F8 Words in s. 31(4A) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 25(8)(c); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with transitional and transitory provisions in art. 3)

F9 Words in s. 31(4A) substituted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 5, Sch. 2 para. 4(2)(b)

F10 S. 31(5)(6) substituted (20.6.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 19(4); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.

F11 Words in s. 31(7) substituted (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/506, art. 30(b)

F12 Words in s. 31(7) repealed (26.11.1998 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 54(3), 74(3), Sch. 10 Pt. II para. 5(5)(11), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 1998/2750, art. 2(1); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2 Sch.

F13 Words in s. 31(8) repealed (20.6.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(1), 178, 179, Sch. 9 para. 19(5)(a), Sch. 26; S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch. (with savings in art. 10)

F14 Words in s. 31(8) substituted (20.6.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 19(5)(b); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.

F15 S. 31(8)(b) substituted (26.11.1998 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 Pt. II para. 5(5)(12) (with s. 73); S.I. 1998/2750, art. 2(1); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2 Sch.

F16 Words in s. 31(8)(b) substituted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 5, Sch. 2 para. 4(2)(c)

F17 Words in s. 31(8) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 25(8)(d); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with transitional and transitory provisions in art. 3)

F18 S. 31(8A) substituted (20.6.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(9), 279, Sch. 9 para. 19(6); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.

F19 S. 31(9) repealed (20.6.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 168(1), 278, 279, Sch. 9 para. 19(7), Sch. 26; S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch. (with savings in art. 10)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 31(3) restricted (26.11.1998 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, s. 54(3), Sch. 10 para. 5(1) (with s. 73); S.I. 1998/2750, art. 2(1); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2 Sch.

S. 31(3) amended (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 54, 66(5), Sch. 10 Pt. I para. 5(1) (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2 Sch.