HC Deb 10 May 2000 vol 349 c953

11.—(1) In making a report on a reference under paragraph 9 above, the Competition Commission shall include in the report—

  1. (a) definite conclusions on the questions comprised in the reference; and
  2. (b) such an account of their reasons for those conclusions as in their opinion is expedient for facilitating a proper understanding of those questions and of their conclusions.

(2) Where they conclude that any of the matters specified in the reference operate, or may be expected to operate, against the public interest, they shall specify in the report the effects adverse to the public interest which those matters have or may be expected to have.

(3) Where they conclude that any adverse effects so specified could be remedied or prevented by the making of relevant changes, they shall in the report—

  1. (a) specify the relevant changes by which those effects could be remedied or prevented; and
  2. (b) state, in relation to each of the relevant changes, the date on which it should come into operation.

(4) A date stated in the report as that on which a relevant change should come into operation may be a date before the report is made, 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.

(5) Section 82 of the 1973 Act (general provisions as to reports) shall apply in relation to reports of the Competition Commission on references under paragraph 9 above as it applies to reports of the Competition Commission under that Act.

(6) A report of the Competition Commission on a reference under paragraph 9 above shall be made to the Regulator.

(7) The Regulator shall, on receiving such a report, send a copy of it to the Secretary of State and the Authority.

(8) Not less than 14 days after that copy is received by the Secretary of State, the Regulator shall send a copy to each of the persons on whom a copy of the review notice was served.

(9) Not less than 24 hours after complying with sub-paragraph (8) above, the Regulator shall publish the report in such manner as he considers appropriate for bringing the report to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it.

(10) If it appears to the Secretary of State that the publication of any matter in the report would be against the public interest or the commercial interests of any person, he may, before the end of the period of 14 days after he receives his copy of the report, direct the Regulator to exclude that matter from—

  1. (a) every copy of the report sent under sub-paragraph (8) above, and
  2. (b) the version of the report published under sub-paragraph (9) above.