PART 4Competition Reform

CHAPTER 5Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

56Review of certain provisions of Chapters 1 and 2

1

The Secretary of State must, before the end of each review period—

a

carry out a review of the provisions of this Part mentioned in subsection (2), and

b

prepare and publish a report setting out the conclusions of the review.

2

The provisions of this Part are—

a

sections 29 and 36 and Schedule 11 (investigation powers: mergers and markets),

b

section 30 and Schedule 7 (interim measures and pre-emptive action: mergers), and

c

sections 32 and 38 and Schedules 8 and 12 (time-limits etc: mergers and markets).

3

The report must in particular—

a

set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the provisions,

b

assess the extent to which those objectives have been achieved, and

c

assess whether those objectives remain appropriate and, if so, the extent to which they could be achieved in another way which imposed less regulation.

4

The Secretary of State must lay the report before Parliament.

5

Each of the following is a review period for the purposes of this section—

a

the period of 5 years beginning with the first day on which any of the provisions mentioned in subsection (2) comes into force (whether wholly or partly), and

b

each successive period of 5 years.