HC Deb 10 May 2000 vol 349 c946

3.—(1) An application may be made to the Director General of Fair Trading (in this Schedule referred to as "the Director") for him to decide whether the exercise or proposed exercise of a function to which this Schedule applies meets the competition test.

(2) An application may be made under this paragraph by—

  1. (a) the authority or authorities by whom the function has been exercised or is proposed to be exercised, or
  2. (b) any operator of local services who is, or is likely to be, affected by the exercise of the function.

4.—(1) If an application is made under paragraph 3 by the authority or authorities by whom a function has been exercised or is proposed to be exercised, it or they must inform any operators of local services who, in the opinion of the authority or authorities, are or are likely to be affected by the exercise of the function that the application has been made.

(2) If an application is made under paragraph 3 by an operator of local services, he must inform the authority or authorities by whom the function has been exercised or is proposed to be exercised that the application has been made.

(3) The Director must arrange for an application made under paragraph 3 to be published in such a way as he thinks most suitable for bringing it to the attention of those likely to be affected by it, unless he is satisfied that it will be sufficient for him to seek information from one or more particular persons.

(4) In determining an application made under paragraph 3, the Director must take into account any representations made to him about the application.