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        Fair Trading Act 1973 (c.41)
        Introductory Text
        Main body
        Part I Introductory
        1. Director General of Fair Trading.
        2. General functions of Director.
        3. Consumer Protection Advisory Committee.
        4. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission.
        5. Principal functions of Commission.
        6. Monopoly situation in relation to supply of goods.
        7. Monopoly situation in relation to supply of services.
        8. Monopoly situation in relation to exports.
        9. Monopoly situation limited to part of United Kingdom.
        10. Supplementary provisions relating to ss. 6 to 9.
        11. Meaning of"complex monopoly situation".
        12. Powers of Secretary of State in relation to functions of Director.
        Part II References to Consumer Protection Advisory Committee
        General provisions
        13. Meaning of"consumer trade practice".
        14. General provisions as to references to Advisory Committee.
        15. Exclusion from s. 14 in respect of certain services.
        16. Restriction on references under s. 14 in respect of certain goods and services.
        17. Reference to Advisory Committee proposing recommendation to Secretary of State to make an order.
        18. No such recommendation to be made except in pursuance of reference to which s. 17 applies.
        19. Scope of recommendation proposed in reference to which s. 17 applies.
        20. Time-limit and quorum for report on reference to which s. 17 applies.
        21. Report of Advisory Committee on reference to which s. 17 applies.
        Order in pursuance of report of Advisory Committee
        22. Order of Secretary of State in pursuance of report on reference to which s. 17 applies.
        23. Penalties for contravention of order under s. 22.
        24. Offences due to default of other person.
        25. Defences in proceedings under s. 23.
        26. Limitation of effect of orders under s. 22.
        Enforcement of orders
        27. Enforcing authorities.
        28. Power to make test purchases.
        29. Power to enter premises and inspect and seize goods and documents.
        30. Offences in connection with exercise of powers under s. 29.
        31. Notice of test.
        32. Compensation for loss in respect of goods seized under s. 29.
        33. Application of Part II to Northern Ireland.
        Part III Additional Functions of Director for Protection of Consumers
        34. Action by Director with respect to course of conduct detrimental to interests of consumers.
        35. Proceedings before Restrictive Practices Court.
        36. Evidence in proceedings under s. 35.
        37. Order of, or undertaking given to, Court in proceedings under s. 35.
        38. Provisions as to persons consenting to or conniving at courses of conduct detrimental to interests of consumers.
        39. Order of, or undertaking given to, Court in proceedings under s. 38.
        40. Provisions as to interconnected bodies corporate.
        41. Concurrent Jurisdiction of other courts in certain cases.
        41A. Meaning of"relevant Court".
        42. Appeals from decisions or orders of courts under Part III.
        43. Legal aid in proceedings under Part III in Restrictive Practices Court.
        Part IV Functions of Director and Commission in Relation to Monopoly Situations and Uncompetitive Practices
        Powers for Director to require information
        44. General power for Director to require information.
        45. Special power to require information with respect to complex monopoly situations.
        46. Supplementary provisions as to requirements to furnish information.
        Monopoly references
        47. General provisions as to monopoly references
        48. Monopoly reference limited to the facts.
        49. Monopoly reference not limited to the facts.
        50. Monopoly references by Director.
        51. Monopoly references by Ministers.
        52. Variation of monopoly reference.
        53. Publication of monopoly references and variations, and of directions relating to them.
        54. Report of Commission on monopoly reference.
        55. Time-limit for report on monopoly reference.
        56. Order of appropriate Minister on report on monopoly reference.
        Undertakings as alternative to monopoly reference by Director
        56A. Proposals by Director.
        56B. Proposals under section 56A: preparatory steps.
        56C. Proposals under section 56A: exclusion of sensitive information.
        56D. Acceptance by Secretary of State of proposals under section 56A.
        56E. Review of undertakings.
        56F. Release, variation and replacement of undertakings.
        56G. Publication of undertakings etc.
        Part V Mergers
        Newspaper merger references
        57. Meaning of"newspaper","transfer of newspaper or of newspaper assets" and related expressions.
        58. Prohibition of certain newspaper mergers.
        59. Newspaper merger reference.
        60. Time-limit for report on newspaper merger reference.
        61. Report on newspaper merger reference.
        62. Enforcement provisions relating to newspaper mergers.
        Other merger references
        63. Mergers references to which ss. 64 to 75 apply.
        64. Merger situation qualifying for investigation.
        65. Enterprises ceasing to be distinct enterprises.
        66. Time when enterprises cease to be distinct.
        66A Obtaining control by stages.
        67. Valuation of assets taken over.
        68. Supplementary provisions as to merger situations qualifying for investigation.
        69. Different kinds of merger references.
        70. Time-limit for report on merger reference.
        71. Variation of certain merger references.
        72. Report of Commission on merger reference.
        73. Order of Secretary of State on report on merger reference.
        74. Interim order in respect of merger reference.
        75. Reference in anticipation of merger.
        Restriction on power to make merger reference where prior notice has been given
        75A. General rule where notice given by acquirer and no reference made within period for considering notice.
        75B. The role of the Director.
        75C. Cases where power to refer unaffected.
        75D. Regulations
        75E. Interpretation of sections 75A to 75D.
        75F. Power to amend sections 75B to 75D.
        Undertakings as alternative to merger reference
        75G. Acceptance of undertakings.
        75H. Publication of undertakings.
        75J. Review of undertakings.
        75K. Order of Secretary of State where undertaking not fulfilled.
        Supplementary
        76. Functions of Director in relation to merger situations.
        77. Associated persons.
        Part VI References to Commission other than Monopoly and Merger References
        78. General references.
        79. References as to restrictive labour practices.
        80. Variation of reference under Part VI.
        Part VII Provisions Relating to References to Advisory Committee or to Commission
        81. Procedure in carrying out investigations
        82. General provisions as to reports.
        83. Laying before Parliament and publication of reports.
        Part VIII Additional Provisions relating to References to Commission
        84. Public interest.
        85. Attendance of witnesses and production of documents.
        86. Director to receive copies of reports.
        87. Supplementary provisions as to laying reports before Parliament.
        88. Action by Director in consequence of report of Commission on monopoly or merger reference.
        89. Interim order after report of Commission under s. 54 or s. 72.
        90. General provisions as to orders under ss. 56, 73, 74 and 89.
        91. Procedure relating to orders to which s. 90 applies.
        92. Investigation of company or association with reference to order to which s. 90 applies.
        93. Enforcement of orders to which s. 90 applies.
        93B. False or misleading information.
        Part IX Amendments of Restrictive Trade Practices Acts
        94. Transfer of functions of Registrar to Director.
        95-106. . . .
        Part X {no text}
        107-117. . . .
        Part XI Pyramid Selling and Similar Trading Schemes
        118. Trading schemes to which Part XI applies.
        119. Regulations relating to such trading schemes.
        120. Offences under Part XI.
        121. Defences in certain proceedings under Part XI.
        122. Penalties for offences under Part XI.
        123. Enforcement provisions.
        Part XII Miscellaneous and Supplementary Provisions
        124. Publication of information and advice.
        125. Annual and other reports of Director.
        126. . . .
        127. Additional power to make orders under Agricultural Marketing Act 1958.
        128. . . .
        129. Time-limit for prosecutions.
        130. Notice to Director of intended prosecution.
        131. Notification of convictions and judgments to Director.
        132. Offences by bodies corporate.
        133. General restrictions on disclosure of information.
        134. Provisions as to orders.
        135. Financial provisions.
        136. . . .
        137. General interpretation provisions.
        138. Supplementary interpretation provisions.
        139. Amendments, repeals and transitional provisions.
        140. Short title, citation, commencement and extent.
        Schedules
        SCHEDULE 1 Director General of Fair Trading
        SCHEDULE 2 Consumer Protection Advisory Committee
        SCHEDULE 3
        SCHEDULE 4 Services Excluded from Sections 14 and 109
        SCHEDULE 5 Goods and Services Referred to in Section 16
        Part I General Restriction
        Part II Limited Restriction . . .
        SCHEDULE 6 Matters Falling Within Scope of Proposals Under Section 17
        SCHEDULE 7 Goods and Services (in addition to those in Schedule 5) Wholly or Partly Excluded from Section 50
        Part I Goods and Services Wholly Excluded
        Part II Goods and Services Partly Excluded
        Part III Goods Partly Excluded in Relation to Northern Ireland Only
        SCHEDULE 8 Powers Exercisable by Orders Under Sections 56 and 73
        Part I Powers Exercisable in all Cases
        Part II Powers Exercisable Except in Cases Falling within Section 56(6)
        SCHEDULE 9 Procedure Preliminary to Laying Draft of Order to which Section 91(1) Applies
        SCHEDULE 10 . . .
        SCHEDULE 11 Transitional Provisions and Savings
        SCHEDULE 12 ENACTMENTS AMENDED
        SCHEDULE 13 ENACTMENTS REPEALED

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