(1)The Competition Commission may give a direction under subsection (2) if it considers that the modifications set out in a notice under section 17(4) are not the modifications which are needed for the purpose of remedying or preventing all or any of the adverse effects specified by it in the report as effects which could be remedied or prevented by modifications.
(2)The Competition Commission may direct the Commission—
(a)not to make the modifications concerned, or
(b)not to make such of the modifications as may be specified in the direction.
(3)Subject to subsection (4), the Competition Commission may only give a direction under subsection (2) within the period of four weeks starting with the date on which the notice under section 17(4) is given.
(4)The Secretary of State may, on the application of the Competition Commission and within the period mentioned in subsection (3), direct that the period (and, accordingly, the period mentioned in section 17(5) and (6)) shall be extended by 14 days.
(5)The Competition Commission may itself make such modifications as it considers are needed for the purpose of remedying or preventing—
(a)if the direction was given under subsection (2)(a), the adverse effects specified in the report as effects which could be remedied or prevented by modifications,
(b)if the direction was given under subsection (2)(b), such of those adverse effects as are not remedied or prevented by the modifications made by the Commission under section 17(6).
(6)In exercising its functions under subsection (5), the Competition Commission shall have regard to the matters to which the Commission is required to have regard when determining the conditions of a licence.
(7)The Commission shall, for the purpose of assisting the Competition Commission in exercising its functions under this section, give to the Competition Commission—
(a)any information the Commission has which relates to the exercise of the functions and which the Competition Commission requests,
(b)any information the Commission has which relates to the exercise of the functions and which the Commission considers that it would be appropriate for it to give without a request,
(c)any other assistance which the Commission is able to give in relation to the exercise of the functions and which the Competition Commission requests.
(8)In exercising its functions under this section, the Competition Commission shall have regard to any information given under subsection (7).