Competition Commission
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CC states case on competition reform
The Competition
Commission (CC) has today published its formal response to the
Government’s consultation on reforms to the UK competition regime.
The government proposals, which were published in March, include
merging the CC and competition functions of the Office of Fair
Trading (OFT) into a single Competition and Markets Authority
(CMA). The CC’s detailed response is available here.
The CC fully supports the Government’s objective of enhancing
the UK’s world class competition regime and believes that a single
competition authority will be able to ensure a more effective use
of resources and powers and to streamline its processes to reduce
the burden on business.
The new authority must preserve the strengths of the current
regime: the clear separation between phase 1 (screening and
selection of cases) and phase 2 (detailed investigation and
decision-taking); the use of panels of independent expert members
in phase 2 investiga-tions; and the operation of fair and
transparent processes governed by statutory timetables.
The
main scope for improvement would come from wider application of
these strengths, by extending the two-phase system with
decision-making by member panels to cartel and abuse of dominance
cases and using statutory timetables, which currently apply to
phase 2 investigations, more widely.
CC Chairman Roger Witcomb said:
The job of the competition authorities is to support economic
growth and productivity by choosing the right cases to investigate
and then delivering fair, robust decisions in a reasonable
timescale. The creation of a new single authority offers the
opportunity to achieve this task even more successfully by
building on and extending the acknowledged strengths of the
existing regime. We look forward to continuing to work with
Ministers as they develop the proposals.
Notes to Editors
1. The CC is an independent public body, which carries out
investigations into mergers, markets and the regulated industries.
2. The CC has a pool of around 40 part-time members (in
addition to the Chairman and Deputy Chairs) from which it chooses
those to sit on particular inquiry groups. Members are appointed
for their individual experience, ability and diversity of
background and many have active career interests. The appointment
of members enables the CC to benefit from their relevant and
current expertise in particular sectors or professions and support
a robust and fair decision-making process.
3. In Global Competition Review’s annual survey of the
world’s competition regimes, the CC has topped the table for the
last four years.
4. Enquiries should be directed to Rory Taylor or Siobhan
Allen or by ringing 020 7271 0242.
Contacts:
NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the issuing dept
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
