HC Deb 10 May 2000 vol 349 cc953-5

12.—(1) Where a report of the Competition Commission on a reference under paragraph 9 above—

  1. (a) includes conclusions to the effect that any of the matters specified in the reference operate, or may be expected to operate, against the public interest,
  2. (b) specifies effects adverse to the public interest which those matters have or may be expected to have,
  3. (c) includes conclusions to the effect that those effects could be remedied or prevented by the making of relevant changes, and
  4. (d) specifies relevant changes by which those effects could be remedied or prevented,
the Regulator shall, subject to the following provisions of this paragraph and paragraph 13 below, make such relevant changes as appear to him requisite for the purpose of remedying or preventing the adverse effects specified in the report.

(2) Before making relevant changes under this paragraph, the Regulator shall have regard to the relevant changes specified in the report.

(3) Before making relevant changes under this paragraph, the Regulator shall give notice—

  1. (a) stating that he proposes to make the relevant changes and setting out their effect,
  2. (b) stating the reasons why he proposes to make the relevant changes,
  3. (c) stating, in relation to each of the proposed relevant changes, the date on which he proposes that it should come into operation, and
  4. (d) specifying the period (not being less than 28 days from the date of publication of the notice) within which representations or objections with respect to the proposed relevant changes may be made,
and shall consider any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn.

(4) A notice under sub-paragraph (3) above shall be given—

  1. (a) by publishing the notice in such manner as the Regulator considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matters to which the notice relates to the attention of persons likely to be affected by the making of the relevant changes; and
  2. (b) by serving a copy of the notice on the persons on whom a copy of the review notice was served.

(5) Where (after considering any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn) the Regulator proposes to make relevant changes under this paragraph, he shall give notice to the Competition Commission—

  1. (a) setting out the relevant changes he proposes to make;
  2. (b) stating the reasons why he proposes to make the relevant changes; and
  3. (c) stating, in relation to each of the proposed relevant changes, the date on which he proposes that it should come into operation.

(6) The Regulator shall include with the notice under sub-paragraph (5) above a copy of any representations and objections which have been considered.

(7) A date stated in a notice under sub-paragraph (3) or (5) above as that on which a relevant change should come into operation may be a date before the notice is given, provided that it is not before the earliest date specified in the review notice for the coming into operation of a relevant change proposed in it.

(8) If the period within which a direction may be given by the Competition Commission under paragraph 13 below expires without such a direction being given, the Regulator shall make the relevant changes set out in the notice under sub-paragraph (5) above.

(9) If a direction is given by the Competition Commission under paragraph 13(1)(b) below, the Regulator shall make such of those relevant changes as are not specified in the direction.

(10) As soon as practicable after making relevant changes under this paragraph, the Regulator shall send a copy of the relevant changes to the Authority and the Health and Safety Executive.