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Enterprise Act 2002

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Point in time view as at 24/05/2024.

Changes to legislation:

Enterprise Act 2002, Cross Heading: Other is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 22 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

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124 Orders and regulations under Part 3U.K.

(1)Any power of the Secretary of State to make an order or regulations under this Part shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.

(2)Any power of the Secretary of State to make an order or regulations under this Part—

(a)may be exercised so as to make different provision for different cases or different purposes; and

(b)includes power to make such incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitory, transitional or saving provision as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(3)The power of the Secretary of State under section 34[F1, 59(6A)] [F2, 70G] or 123 (including that power as extended by subsection (2) above) [F3, or paragraph 15 of Schedule 6B,] may be exercised by modifying any enactment comprised in or made under this Act, or any other enactment.

(4)The power of the Secretary of State under section [F434ZC(6),] 40(8), [F541B(6),] [F644(11),] 52(8) (including that enactment as applied by section 65(3)), 58(3), F7... [F873B(6)][F9, [F10 94A(6) ]] or 102 as extended by subsection (2) above may be exercised by modifying any enactment comprised in or made under this Act, or any other enactment.

(5)[F11[F12Regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 68A or]] an order made by the Secretary of State under section 28 (including that enactment as applied by section 42(5) [F13and 59(5)]), [F1434ZC(6),] 40(8), [F1541B(6),] 52(8) (including that enactment as applied by section 65(3)), [F1659(6A)(a),] [F1770C], [F1873B(6)] [F19, [F2094A(3) or (6),] 111(4) or (6)], 114(3)(b) or (4)(b) or 121 or Schedule 7 [F21shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament] [F21is subject to the negative procedure].

[F22(5A)Regulations made under section 68A, 94AB(9) or 111(9) are subject to the negative procedure.]

(6)[F23No order shall be made] [F23An order made] by the Secretary of State under section 34, [F2444(11), [F2559(6A)] [F25section 59(6A)(b)],] F26... 102, 123 or 128(6) [F27unless a draft of it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament] [F27is subject to the affirmative procedure].

[F28[F29(6A)A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 70G or paragraph 15 of Schedule 6B may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.]]

[F29Regulations made under section 70G, 94AB(7) or 111(7A), or paragraph 15 of Schedule 6B, are subject to the affirmative procedure.

(6B)Any provision that may be made by order or regulations under this Part subject to the negative procedure may instead be made by order or regulations subject to the affirmative procedure.]

(7)An order made by the Secretary of State under section 58(3) shall be laid before Parliament after being made and shall cease to have effect unless approved, within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which it is made, by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(8)In calculating the period of 28 days mentioned in subsection (7), no account shall be taken of any time during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.

(9)If an order made by the Secretary of State ceases to have effect by virtue of subsection (7), any modification made by it of an enactment is repealed (and the previous enactment revived) but without prejudice to the validity of anything done in connection with that modification before the order ceased to have effect and without prejudice to the making of a new order.

(10)If, apart from this subsection, an order made by the Secretary of State under section 58(3) [F30or 70G, or paragraph 15 of Schedule 6B] would be treated for the purposes of the standing orders of either House of Parliament as a hybrid instrument, it shall proceed in that House as if it were not such an instrument.

[F31(11)Where orders or regulations under this Part are subject to “the affirmative procedure”, the orders or regulations may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing them has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

(12)Where orders or regulations under this Act are subject to “the negative procedure”, the statutory instrument containing them is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F1Word in s. 124(3) inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 24(2) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F6Word in s. 124(4) inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 24(3) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F9Word in s. 124(4) omitted (24.5.2024 for specified purposes) by virtue of Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(2)(c), Sch. 14 para. 2(2) (with Sch. 19)

F10Word in s. 124(4) inserted (25.4.2013 for specified purposes, 1.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 31(3)(a), 103(1)(i)(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)

F11Words in s. 124(5) omitted (24.5.2024 for specified purposes) by virtue of Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(2)(c), Sch. 14 para. 2(3)(a) (with Sch. 19)

F19Words in s. 124(5) omitted (24.5.2024 for specified purposes) by virtue of Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(2)(c), Sch. 14 para. 2(3)(c) (with Sch. 19)

F20Words in s. 124(5) inserted (25.4.2013 for specified purposes, 1.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 31(3)(b), 103(1)(i)(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)

F24Words in s. 124(6) inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 24(4) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

125 Offences by bodies corporateU.K.

(1)Where an offence under this Part 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—

(a)a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or

(b)a person purporting to act in such a capacity,

he as well as the body corporate commits the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2)Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (1) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate.

(3)Where an offence under this Part is committed by a Scottish partnership and is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of a partner, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of a partner, he as well as the partnership commits the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(4)In subsection (3) “partner” includes a person purporting to act as a partner.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

126 Service of documentsU.K.

(1) Any document required or authorised by virtue of this Part to be served on any person may be served—

(a)by delivering it to him or by leaving it at his proper address or by sending it by post to him at that address;

(b)if the person is a body corporate other than a limited liability partnership, by serving it in accordance with paragraph (a) on the secretary of the body;

(c)if the person is a limited liability partnership, by serving it in accordance with paragraph (a) on a member of the partnership; or

(d)if the person is a partnership, by serving it in accordance with paragraph (a) on a partner or a person having the control or management of the partnership business.

(2)For the purposes of this section and section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30) (service of documents by post) in its application to this section, the proper address of any person on whom a document is to be served shall be his last known address, except that—

(a)in the case of service on a body corporate (other than a limited liability partnership) or its secretary, it shall be the address of the registered or principal office of the body;

(b)in the case of service on a limited liability partnership or a member of the partnership, it shall be the address of the registered or principal office of the partnership;

(c)in the case of service on a partnership or a partner or a person having the control or management of a partnership business, it shall be the address of the principal office of the partnership.

(3)For the purposes of subsection (2) the principal office of a company constituted under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom or of a partnership carrying on business outside the United Kingdom is its principal office within the United Kingdom.

(4)Subsection (5) applies if a person to be served under this Part with any document by another has specified to that other an address within the United Kingdom other than his proper address (as determined under subsection (2)) as the one at which he or someone on his behalf will accept documents of the same description as that document.

(5)In relation to that document, that address shall be treated as his proper address for the purposes of this section and section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 in its application to this section, instead of that determined under subsection (2).

(6)Any notice in writing or other document required or authorised by virtue of this Part to be served on any person may be served on that person by transmitting the text of the notice or other document to him by means of [F32an electronic communications network] or by other means but while in electronic form provided the text is received by that person in legible form and is capable of being used for subsequent reference.

(7)This section does not apply to any document if rules of court make provision about its service.

(8)In this section references to serving include references to similar expressions (such as giving or sending).

Textual Amendments

F32Words in s. 126(6) substituted (25.7.2003 for certain purposes and 29.12.2003 for certain purposes) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406(1), 411(2)(3), Sch. 17 para. 174(2) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), 3(1), Sch. 1 (with arts. 3-6 (as amended (8.12.2003) by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

127Associated personsU.K.

(1)Associated persons, and any bodies corporate which they or any of them control, shall be treated as one person—

(a)for the purpose of deciding under section 26 whether any two enterprises have been brought under common ownership or common control;

[F33(aa)for the purposes of section 58(2C); F34...]

[F35(ab)for the purposes of section 70A(3);]

(b)for the purpose of determining what activities are carried on by way of business by any one person so far as that question arises in connection with paragraph 13(2) of Schedule 8.

(2)Subsection (1) shall not exclude from section 26 any case which would otherwise fall within that section.

(3)A reference under section 22, 33, 45 [F36, 62, 68B or 68C] (whether or not made by virtue of this section) may be framed so as to exclude from consideration, either altogether or for a specified purpose or to a specified extent, any matter which, apart from this section, would not have been taken into account on that reference.

(4)For the purposes of this section—

(a)any individual and that individual’s spouse [F37, civil partner] or partner and any relative, or spouse or partner of a relative, of that individual or of that individual’s spouse [F37, civil partner] or partner;

(b)any person in his capacity as trustee of a settlement and the settlor or grantor and any person associated with the settlor or grantor;

(c)persons carrying on business in partnership and the spouse [F37, civil partner] or partner and relatives of any of them; or

(d)two or more persons acting together to secure or exercise control of a body of persons corporate or unincorporate or to secure control of any enterprise or assets,

shall be regarded as associated with one another.

(5)The reference in subsection (1) to bodies corporate which associated persons control shall be construed in accordance with section 26(3) and (4).

(6)In this section “relative” means a brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, lineal ancestor or descendant (the stepchild of any person, or anyone adopted by a person, whether legally or otherwise, as his child being regarded as a relative or taken into account to trace a relationship in the same way as that person’s child); and references to a spouse [F37, civil partner] or partner shall include a former spouse [F37, civil partner] or partner.

Textual Amendments

F33S. 127(1)(aa) substituted (29.12.2003) for word by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 375(3), 411(2)(3) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F36Words in s. 127(3) substituted (26.10.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), s. 334(2)(j), Sch. 16 para. 32

F37Words in s. 127(4)(a)(c)(6) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 261(1), 263, Sch. 27 para. 168; S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2, Sch. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

128 Supply of services and market for services etc.U.K.

(1)References in this Part to the supply of services shall be construed in accordance with this section; and references in this Part to a market for services and other related expressions shall be construed accordingly.

(2)The supply of services does not include the provision of services under a contract of service or of apprenticeship whether it is express or implied and (if it is express) whether it is oral or in writing.

(3)The supply of services includes—

(a)performing for gain or reward any activity other than the supply of goods;

(b)rendering services to order;

(c)the provision of services by making them available to potential users.

(4)The supply of services includes making arrangements for the use of computer software or for granting access to data stored in any form which is not readily accessible.

(5)The supply of services includes making arrangements by means of a relevant agreement [F38(within the meaning of paragraph 17 of Schedule 3A to the Communications Act 2003 (the electronic communications code)) for sharing the use of electronic communications apparatus.]

(6)The supply of services includes permitting or making arrangements to permit the use of land in such circumstances as the Secretary of State may by order specify.

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

129 Other interpretation provisionsU.K.

(1)In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—

  • “action” includes omission; and references to the taking of action include references to refraining from action;

  • “agreement” means any agreement or arrangement, in whatever way and whatever form it is made, and whether it is, or is intended to be, legally enforceable or not;

  • “business” includes a professional practice and includes any other undertaking which is carried on for gain or reward or which is an undertaking in the course of which goods or services are supplied otherwise than free of charge;

  • “change of circumstances” includes any discovery that information has been supplied which is false or misleading in a material respect;

  • F39...

  • “consumer” means any person who is—

    (a)

    a person to whom goods are or are sought to be supplied (whether by way of sale or otherwise) in the course of a business carried on by the person supplying or seeking to supply them; or

    (b)

    a person for whom services are or are sought to be supplied in the course of a business carried on by the person supplying or seeking to supply them;

    and who does not receive or seek to receive the goods or services in the course of a business carried on by him;

  • “customer” includes a customer who is not a consumer;

  • F40...

  • “enactment” includes an Act of the Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland legislation and an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation, and includes an enactment whenever passed or made;

  • “enterprise” means the activities, or part of the activities, of a business;

  • [F41“the European Merger Regulations” means Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 of 21st December 1989 on the control of concentrations between undertakings as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No. 1310/97 of 30th June 1997;]

  • [F42“foreign state intervention notice” means a notice under section 70A(1);

  • “foreign state newspaper merger situation” is to be interpreted in accordance with section 70A(3);]

  • “goods” includes buildings and other structures, and also includes ships, aircraft and hovercraft;

  • “modify” includes amend or repeal;

  • “notice” means notice in writing;

  • “price” includes any charge or fee (however described);

  • “subordinate legislation” has the same meaning as in the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30) and also includes an instrument made under an Act of the Scottish Parliament and an instrument made under Northern Ireland legislation;

  • “subsidiary” has the meaning given by [F43section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006] (c. 6);

  • “supply”, in relation to the supply of goods, includes supply by way of sale, lease, hire or hire-purchase, and, in relation to buildings or other structures, includes the construction of them by a person for another person;

  • [F44“the UK financial system” means the financial system in the United Kingdom;] and

  • “United Kingdom national” means an individual who is—

    (a)

    a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British National (Overseas) or a British Overseas citizen;

    (b)

    a person who under the British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61) is a British subject; or

    (c)

    a British protected person within the meaning of that Act.

(2)For the purposes of this Part any two bodies corporate are interconnected if—

(a)one of them is a body corporate of which the other is a subsidiary; or

(b)both of them are subsidiaries of one and the same body corporate;

and in this Part “interconnected bodies corporate” shall be construed accordingly and “group of interconnected bodies corporate” means a group consisting of two or more bodies corporate all of whom are interconnected with each other.

(3)References in this Part to a person carrying on business include references to a person carrying on business in partnership with one or more other persons.

(4)Any duty to publish which is imposed on a person by this Part shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as a duty on that person to publish in such manner as he considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matter concerned to the attention of those likely to be affected by it.

Textual Amendments

F41S. 129(1): definition of "the European Merger Regulations" ceased to have effect (1.5.2004) by virtue of The EC Merger Control (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1079), reg. 2, Sch. para. 2(25)(a)

F44Words in s. 129(1) inserted (24.10.2008) (with application in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Specification of Additional Section 58 Consideration) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2645), arts. 1(1), 3(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

130 Index of defined expressionsU.K.

In this Part, the expressions listed in the left-hand column have the meaning given by, or are to be interpreted in accordance with, the provisions listed in the right-hand column.

ExpressionProvision of this Act
Action (and the taking of action)Section 129(1)
Adverse public interest findingSection 54(3)
AgreementSection 129(1)
Anti-competitive outcomeSection 35(2)
[F45BroadcastingSection 44(9)]
Business (and carrying on business)Section 129(1) and (3)
Change of circumstancesSection 129(1)
F46. . .F46. . .
[F47The CMA Section 273]
F48. . .F48. . .
ConsumerSection 129(1)
CustomerSection 129(1)
Date of referenceSection 39(9)
The decision-making authoritySection 22(7)
F49. . .[F50Section 129(1)]
EnactmentSection 129(1)
[F51Energy network enterprise Section 68A]
[F51Energy network merger Section 68A]
Enforcement orderSection 86(6)
Enforcement undertakingSection 89(2)
EnterpriseSection 129(1)
Enterprises ceasing to be distinctSection 26(1)
[F52European Merger RegulationsSection 129(1) ]
Final determination of matter to which intervention notice relatesSection 43(4) and (5)
Final determination of matter to which special intervention notice relatesSection 60(4) and (5)
Final determination of reference under section 22 [F53, 33, 68B or 68C]Section 79(1) and (2)
[F54Foreign state intervention notice Section 70A (1)
Foreign state newspaper merger situationSection 70A (3)]
GoodsSection 129(1)
Interconnected bodies corporate (and a group of interconnected bodies corporate)Section 129(2)
Intervention noticeSection 42(2)
Market for goods or servicesSection 22(6)
Market in the United KingdomSection 22(6)
[F55Media public interest considerationSection 44(8)]
Merger noticeSection 96(2)
ModifySection 129(1)
[F56NewspaperSection 44(10)]
[F57Newspaper enterpriseSection 58A(3)]
NoticeSection 129(1)
Notified arrangementsSection 96(6)
[F58OFCOMSection 43(6)]
F46. . .F46. . .
Orders under section 81Section 81(6)
Orders under paragraph 2 of Schedule 7Paragraph 2(7) of Schedule 7
The period for considering a merger noticeSections 97 and 98
PriceSection 129(1)
Public interest consideration [F59Section 42(3)]
Public interest consideration being finalisedSection 42(8)
PublishSection 129(4)
References under section 22, 33, 45 [F60, 62, 68B or 68C]Sections 37(2) [F61(including as applied by Schedule 5A)], 49(1), 56(8) and 64(2)
Relevant customer benefitSection 30
Relevant merger situationSection 23 (as read with other enactments)
Reports of the [F62CMA]Section 118(5)
Special intervention noticeSection 59(2)
Special merger situationSection 59(3)
Subordinate legislationSection 129(1)
SubsidiarySection 129(1)
Supply (in relation to the supply of goods)Section 129(1)
The supply of services (and a market for services etc.)Section 128
[F63Transferred EU merger commitments Section 95A(6)]
The turnover in the United Kingdom of an enterpriseSection 28(2) [F64(including as applied by Schedule 5A)]
[F65The UK financial system] [F66Section 129(1)]
Undertakings under section 80Section 80(6)
F67. . .F67. . .
United Kingdom nationalSection 129(1)

Textual Amendments

F45S. 130: entry inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 25(2) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F51Words in s. 130 table inserted (26.10.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), s. 334(2)(j), Sch. 16 para. 33(2)

F53Words in s. 130 table substituted (26.10.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), s. 334(2)(j), Sch. 16 para. 33(3)

F55S. 130: entry inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 25(3) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F56S. 130: entry inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 25(4) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F57S. 130: entry inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 25(4) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F58S. 130: entry inserted (29.12.2003) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 389(1), 411(2)(3), Sch. 16 para. 25(5) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3(3), 11)

F60Words in s. 130 table substituted (26.10.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), s. 334(2)(j), Sch. 16 para. 33(4)(a)

F61Words in s. 130 table inserted (26.10.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), s. 334(2)(j), Sch. 16 para. 33(4)(b)

F64Words in s. 130 table inserted (26.10.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), s. 334(2)(j), Sch. 16 para. 33(5)

F65S. 130 entry inserted (24.10.2008) (with application in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Specification of Additional Section 58 Consideration) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2645), arts. 1(1), 3(2)

F66S. 130 entry inserted (24.10.2008) (with application in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Specification of Additional Section 58 Consideration) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2645), arts. 1(1), 3(2)(b)

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