OpenLegislation

Section 26 Investigations: powers to require documents and informationF8C1C2C3

United Kingdom

(1)

For the purposes of an investigation F1under section 25, the F2CMA may require any person to produce to F3it a specified document, or to provide it with specified information, which it considers relates to any matter relevant to the investigation.

(2)

The power conferred by subsection (1) is to be exercised by a notice in writing.

(3)

A notice under subsection (2) must F4...—

(a)

F5indicate the subject matter and purpose of the investigation; and

F6(b)

include information about the possible consequences of failing to comply with the notice.

(4)

In subsection (1) “specified” means—

(a)

specified, or described, in the notice; or

(b)

falling within a category which is specified, or described, in the notice.

(5)

The F7CMA may also specify in the notice—

(a)

the time and place at which any document is to be produced or any information is to be provided;

(b)

the manner and form in which it is to be produced or provided.

(6)

The power under this section to require a person to produce a document includes power—

(a)

if the document is produced—

(i)

to take copies of it or extracts from it;

(ii)

to require him, or any person who is a present or past officer of his, or is or was at any time employed by him, to provide an explanation of the document;

(b)

if the document is not produced, to require him to state, to the best of his knowledge and belief, where it is.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1

Words in s. 26(1) cease to have effect (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 1(a), Sch. 1 para. 11 (with reg. 6(2))

F2

Word in s. 26(1) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 6 (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F3

Words in s. 26(1) substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), s. 279, Sch. 25 para. 38(20)(a); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3) (as amended (20.7.2007) by S.I. 2007/1846, reg. 3(2), Sch.)

F4

Word in s. 26(3) omitted (1.1.2025) by virtue of Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 10 para. 2(2); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(14)

F5

Word in s. 26(3)(a) inserted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 10 para. 2(3); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(14)

F6

S. 26(3)(b) substituted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 10 para. 2(4); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(14)

F7

Word in s. 26(5) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), s. 103(3), Sch. 5 para. 6 (with s. 28); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(d) (with Sch.)

F8

S. 26 heading substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 39(3), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)

Modifications

C1

Ss. 26-30 applied by 1986 c. 46, s. 9C(2) (as inserted (20.6.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 204(2), 279; S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.)

C2

Ss. 26-30 applied by S.I. 2002/3150 (N.I. 4), art. 13C(2) (as inserted (19.12.2005) by The Company Directors Disqualification (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1454), arts. 1(3), 3; S.R. 2005/514, art. 2)

C3

Ss. 26-29 powers extended (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), ss. 319, 339(1); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(4)

Notes on the whole Act

Textual amendments

F1

Words in long title substituted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), Sch. 1 para. 1

Notes on Part I

Modifications

C1

Pt. 1: certain functions made exercisable concurrently (26.11.1998 for certain purposes and prosp. otherwise) by 1984 c. 12, s. 50(3) (as substituted by 1998 c. 41, s. 66(5), Sch. 10 Pt. II para. 2(6) (with s. 73); S.I. 1998/2750, art. 2)

C2

Pt. 1 (except ss. 38(1)-(6), 51) amended (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, ss. 86(1)(3), 89 (with ss. 105(2)(d)(5), 106); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. 1

C3

Pt. 1 (except ss. 38(1)-(6), 51, 52(6) and (8) and 54) amended (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 86(4)(b)(5) (with ss. 105(2)(d)(5), 106); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. 1

Pt. 1 (except ss. 38(1)-(6), 51) amended (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 86(7)(b) (with ss. 105(2)(d)(5), 106); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. 1

C4

Pt. 1 modified (25.7.2003 for specified purposes, 29.12.2003 in so far as not already in force) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 371(3), 411(2) (with Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3)); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)

C5

Pt. 1 certain functions made exercisable concurrently by 1998 c. 41, s. 67(3) (as substituted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 1(a), Sch. 2 para. 6(2)(a))

C6

Pt. 1 certain functions made exercisable concurrently by 1991 c. 56, s. 31(3) (as substituted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 1(a), Sch. 2 para. 4(2)(a))

C7

Pt. 1 certain functions made exercisable concurrently by S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1) art. 46(3) (as substituted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 1(a), Sch. 2 para. 5(2)(a))

C8

Pt. 1 certain functions made exercisable concurrently by 1986 c. 44, s. 36A(3) (as substituted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 1(a), Sch. 2 para. 1(2)(a))

C9

Pt. 1 restricted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), regs. 1(a), 9(2)

C10

Pt. 1 certain functions made exercisable concurrently by 1989 c. 29, s. 43(3) (as substituted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 1(a), Sch. 2 para. 3(2)(a))

C11

Pt. 1 certain functions made exercisable concurrently by S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2), art. 23(3) (as substituted (1.5.2004) by The Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1261), reg. 1(a), Sch. 2 para. 9(2)(a))

C12

Pt. 1 certain functions made exercisable concurrently (1.4.2007) by The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/3336), arts. 1(2), 29(3) (with arts. 8(8), 121(3), 307); S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. Pt. 2 (with Sch. 2)

C13

Pt. 1 modified (1.4.2007) by The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/3336), arts. 1(2), 29(5) (with arts. 8(8), 121(3), 307); S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. Pt. 2 (with Sch. 2)

C14

Pt. 1 modified (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 72(3), 306(4); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)

C15

Pt. 1 functions made exercisable concurrently (6.4.2013) by Civil Aviation Act 2012 (c. 19), ss. 62(1)-(3), 110(1) (with s. 77(1)-(3), Sch. 10 paras. 12, 17); S.I. 2013/589, art. 2(1)-(3)

C16

Pt. 1 modified in part (6.4.2013) by Civil Aviation Act 2012 (c. 19), ss. 62(4), 110(1) (with ss. 62(5), 77(1)-(3), Sch. 10 paras. 12, 17); S.I. 2013/589, art. 2(1)-(3)

C17

Pt. 1 certain functions made exercisable concurrently by 2000 c. 8, s. 234J (as inserted (1.11.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 so far as not already in force) by Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c. 33), s. 148(5), Sch. 8 para. 3; S.I. 2014/2458, arts. 2(b)(aa)(i), 3(b)(v))

C18

Pt. 1 certain functions made exercisable concurrently (1.11.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2015 so far as not already in force) by Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 (c. 33), ss. 61(2), 148(5); S.I. 2014/2458, arts. 2(a)(i), 3(b)(ii)

C19

Pt. 1: certain functions made exercisable concurrently (26.12.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 37, 334(3)(a) (with s. 38)

C20

Pt. 1: certain functions made exercisable concurrently (E.W.S.) (27.1.2026 for specified purposes) by The Heat Networks (Market Framework) (Great Britain) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/269), regs. 1(4)(5), 46(2)(a)

C21

Pt. 1 modified (27.1.2026 for specified purposes) (E.W.S.) by The Heat Networks (Market Framework) (Great Britain) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/269), regs. 1(4)(5), 46(3)(a)

Notes on Chapter III

Modifications

C1

Pt. 1 Ch. 3 applied in part (31.10.2023) by The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/80), arts. 1(3), 22