Fair Trading Act 1973

12Powers of Secretary of State in relation to functions of Director

(1)The Secretary of State may give general directions indicating considerations to which the Director should have particular regard in determining the order of priority in which—

(a)matters are to be brought under review in the performance of his duty under section 2(1) of this Act, or

(b)classes of goods or services are to be brought under review byhimfor the purpose of considering whether a monopoly situation exists or may exist in relation to them.

(2)The Secretary of State may also give general directions indicating—

(a)considerations to which, in cases where it appears to the Director that a practice may adversely affect the interests of consumers in the United Kingdom, he should have particular regard in determining whether to make a recommendation to the Secretary of State under section 2(3)(b) of this Act, or

(b)considerations to which, in cases where it appears to the Director that a consumer trade practice may adversely affect the economic interests of consumers in the United Kingdom, he should have particular regard in determining whether to make a reference to the Advisory Committee under Part II of this Act, or

(c)considerations to which, in cases where it appears to the Director that a monopoly situation exists or may exist, he should have particular regard in determining whether to make a monopoly reference to the Commission under Part IV of this Act.

(3)The Secretary of State, on giving any directions under this section, shall arrange for those directions to be published in such manner as the Secretary of State thinks most suitable in the circumstances.