{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1998/section-26A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1998/section-26A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1998/41",
  "legislation_title": "Competition Act 1998",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/competition-act-1998",
  "path": "section/26A",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "26A",
  "heading": "Investigations: power to ask questions",
  "text": "(1) For the purposes of an investigation, the CMA may give notice to an individual ... requiring the individual to answer questions with respect to any matter relevant to the investigation—\n(a) at a place or in a manner (which may be remote) specified in the notice, and\n(b) either at a time so specified or on receipt of the notice.\n(2) The CMA must give a copy of the notice under subsection (1) to any relevant undertaking with which the individual has a current connection at the time the notice is given to the individual.\n(3) The CMA must take such steps as are reasonable in all the circumstances to comply with the requirement under subsection (2) before the time at which the individual is required to answer questions.\n(4) Where the CMA does not comply with the requirement under subsection (2) before the time mentioned in subsection (3), it must comply with that requirement as soon as practicable after that time.\n(5) A notice under subsection (1) must be in writing and must ...—\n(a) indicate the subject matter and purpose of the investigation, and\n(b) include information about the possible consequences of failing to comply with the notice.\n(6) For the purposes of this section, an individual has a current connection with an undertaking if, at the time in question, the individual is—\n(a) concerned in the management or control of the undertaking, or\n(b) employed by, or otherwise working for, the undertaking.\n(7) In this section, a “relevant undertaking” means an undertaking whose activities are being investigated as part of the investigation in question.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 26A inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 39(2), 103(3); S.I. 2014/416, art. 2(1)(b) (with Sch.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 26A(1) omitted (1.1.2025) by virtue of Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), ss. 142(2)(a), 339(1); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 26A(1)(a) inserted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), ss. 142(2)(b), 339(1); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Word in s. 26A(2) substituted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), ss. 142(3), 339(1); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Word in s. 26A(5) omitted (1.1.2025) by virtue of Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 10 para. 3(2); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(14)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Word in s. 26A(5)(a) inserted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 10 para. 3(3); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(14)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "S. 26A(5)(b) substituted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 10 para. 3(4); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(14)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 26A(6) substituted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), ss. 142(4), 339(1); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "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)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/41/section/26A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:22:18.972999+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}