SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 10Markets: public interest interventions

I111

1

Section 144 (time-limits for investigations and reports in public interest cases) is amended as follows.

2

In subsection (1)—

a

for “the date of the reference” substitute “ the relevant date ”, and

b

for the words from “publish it” to the end substitute “ publish it under section 143(1) or 143A(2) or (as the case may be) give it to the Secretary of State in accordance with section 143(3) or 143A(3). ”

3

After subsection (1) insert—

1A

For the purposes of subsection (1), the “relevant date” is—

a

in the case of a report in relation to a restricted PI reference or to a full PI reference which specifies that the Secretary of State does not propose to appoint a public interest expert, the date of the reference;

b

in the case of a report in relation to a full PI reference which specifies that the Secretary of State proposes to appoint a public interest expert, the earliest of the following—

i

the date of the appointment of the expert;

ii

the date on which the Secretary of State gives notice to the CMA that the Secretary of State no longer intends to appoint such an expert;

iii

the end of the period of 2 months beginning with the date of the reference.

4

In subsection (4), after “143(1) or (3)” insert “ or (as the case may be) 143A(2) or (3) ”.