2004 No. 3233 (C.142)

COMPETITION

The Enterprise Act 2002 (Commencement No. 7 and Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2004

Made

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred upon her by sections 276(2) and 279 of the Enterprise Act 20021, hereby makes the following Order:

Citation and interpretation1

1

This Order may be cited as the Enterprise Act 2002 (Commencement No. 7 and Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2004.

2

In this Order—

a

“the 2002 Act” means the Enterprise Act 2002;

b

“the 1991 Act” means the Water Industry Act 19912; and

c

“water purposes” means purposes relating to—

i

the making by the Secretary of State of references under section 32 of the 1991 Act, or

ii

any references so made.

Appointed day2

29th December 2004 is the appointed day for the coming into force of the provisions of the 2002 Act listed in the first column of the Schedule to this Order for the purposes set out in the second column.

Transitional provisions and savings – completed water mergers3

1

Subject to paragraphs 15 to 18 of Schedule 24 to the 2002 Act, the old law shall continue to apply where a merger of two or more water enterprises has taken place before 29th December 2004.

2

The power of the decision-making authority under section 27(5) or 29(1) (including those provisions as applied by any enactment) in relation to events or transactions is exercisable, in relation to a merger of two or more water enterprises which has taken place before 29th December 2004, where the merger forms part of successive events or a series of transactions which include at least one event or transaction to which the new law applies.

3

Where the decision-making authority exercises its power as mentioned in paragraph (2) in relation to a merger of two or more water enterprises which has taken place before 29th December 2004, paragraph (1) shall accordingly cease to apply in relation to the merger.

4

In this article “enactment” includes an enactment comprised in secondary legislation, and includes an enactment whenever passed or made.

Transitional provisions and savings – anticipated water mergers4

1

Subject to paragraphs 15 to 18 of Schedule 24 to the 2002 Act, the old law shall continue to apply in relation to any relevant arrangements which were in progress before 29th December 2004 and are in progress on that day and (if events so require) the actual results of those arrangements where, before 29th December 2004 and in relation to the arrangements, a reference was made by the Secretary of State under section 32(a) of the 1991 Act.

2

Subject to paragraphs 15 to 18 of Schedule 24 of the 2002 Act, the old law shall continue to apply in relation the enforcement, variation or release of any undertakings given before 29th December 2004 under section 88 of the 1973 Act3 in relation to any relevant arrangements which are not otherwise dealt with by paragraph (1).

3

The new law shall apply in relation to relevant arrangements and (if events so require) the results of those arrangements if—

a

the arrangements were in progress before 29th December 2004 and are in progress on that day, and

b

before that day and in relation to the arrangements, no reference was made by the Secretary of State under section 32(a) of the 1991 Act.

4

In this article—

a

“relevant arrangements” means arrangements which might result in the merger of two or more water enterprises; and

b

references to relevant arrangements which are in progress on 29th December 2004 include references to the actual results of those arrangements if the arrangements were in progress immediately before that day and have, at the beginning of that day, resulted in the merger of two or more water enterprises.

Articles 3 and 4: interpretation and supplemental provision5

1

In articles 3 and 4—

a

“the new law” means–

i

sections 32 to 35 of, and Schedule 4ZA to, the 1991 Act (as substituted and inserted by section 70 of, and Schedule 6 to, the 2002 Act),

ii

such provisions of Part 3 of the 2002 Act as apply by virtue of (and with the modifications prescribed under) Schedule 4ZA to the 1991 Act, and

iii

any related provision of law,

(including, in particular, any modification made under section 276(2) of the 2002 Act to any provision mentioned in paragraphs (i) to (iii));

b

“the old law” means–

i

sections 32 to 35 of the 1991 Act (as in force immediately before 29th December 2004),

ii

such provisions of sections 64 to 75K of the 1973 Act as apply by virtue of section 34 of the 1991 Act immediately before that date, and

iii

any related provision of law,

(including, in particular, any modification made under section 276(2) of the 2002 Act to any provision mentioned in paragraphs (i) to (iii)); and

c

references to the merger of two or more water enterprises shall be construed in accordance with section 35(1) and (2) of the 1991 Act, as in force immediately before 29th December 2004.

2

In articles 3 and 4, references to the old law, in relation to the period on or after 20th June 2003, include references to the old law with the following modifications—

a

section 35(4) of the 1991 Act has effect as if for the words from “the Secretary of State” to “the 1973 Act” there were substituted “the OFT or the Secretary of State, in a case in which, or to any extent to which, the Secretary of State is not required to make a reference under section 32 above, to make a reference under Part 3 of the 2002 Act”,

b

paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to the 1998 Act4 has effect as if in paragraph (d) for “OFT” there were substituted “Secretary of State”, and

c

section 121 of the 2002 Act has effect as if the following were omitted–

i

in subsection (1), the words from “and sections 32” to the end,

ii

subsection (3)(d), and

iii

in subsection (8), the words from “and sections 32” to the end.

3

Paragraph 13 of Schedule 24 to the 2002 Act shall not apply in connection with the coming into force of any provision of the 2002 Act by virtue of this Order.

Gerry Sutcliffe,Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment Relations, Postal Services and Consumers,Department of Trade and Industry

SCHEDULE

Article 2

Provisions of the 2002 Act

Purpose

Section 70 (water mergers)

For all purposes

Section 185 (the Commission)

For the purposes of the provisions of Schedule 11 brought into force by this Order

Section 278 (minor and consequential amendments and repeals)

For the purposes of the provisions of Schedules 25 and 26 brought into force by this Order

Schedule 6 (schedule to be inserted in the Water Industry Act 1991)

For all purposes

In Schedule 9 (certain amendments of sectoral enactments) —

paragraph 7

For water purposes

paragraph 8(a)

For all purposes

In Schedule 11 (the Competition Commission) —

paragraph 1

For the purpose of commencing the provisions of Schedule 11 brought into force by this Order

paragraphs 10(4) and 11

For water purposes

In Schedule 25 (minor and consequential amendments) —

For water purposes

paragraphs 1(1), 1(2), 8(1), 8(3), 18(1) to 18 (5), 38(1), 38(2) and 38(50)(a) to (c)

In Schedule 26 (repeals and revocations) the entries relating to the—

Registered Designs Act 19495, section 11A(1)(b)

For water purposes

Fair Trading Act 19736, sections 63 to 76, 77, 78 to 81, 82, 83, 84, 86, 88 to 93A, 129, 132, 138, Schedules 8 and 9

For water purposes

Patents Act 19777, section 51(1)(b)

For water purposes

Companies Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 19858

For water purposes

Companies Act 19899, sections 146 to 150, and Schedule 20

For water purposes

Companies Act 1989, section 152

For all purposes

EEC Merger Control (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 199010

For water purposes

Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 199411, section 9 and paragraph 2(3) in Schedule 11

For water purposes

Deregulation (Fair Trading Act 1973) (Amendment) (Merger Reference Time Limits) Order 199612

For water purposes

Competition Act 199813, paragraph 15(7) in Schedule 7

For water purposes

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force on 29 December 2004 section 70 of and Schedule 6 to the Enterprise Act 2002, which amend the provisions of the Water Industry Act 1991 concerned with mergers of water enterprises. In addition, the Order commences various related repeals, and makes transitional provisions and savings.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business.

(This note is not part of the Order)

The following provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 have been brought into force by commencement orders made before the date of this Order:

Provision

Date of Commencement

S.I.No.

Sections 1 to 4

01.04.03

2003/766

Sections 5 to 7

20.06.03

2003/1397

Sections 8, 9 and 10

01.04.03

2003/766

Section 11

20.06.03

2003/1397

Section 12

01.04.03

2003/766

Section 13(1) to (5)

01.04.03

2003/766

Section 13(6) (partially)

18.03.03

2003/765

Section 13(6) (remaining purposes)

01.04.03

2003/766

Section 14(1) to 14(5)

01.04.03

2003/766

Section 14(6) (partially)

01.04.03

2003/766

Section 14(6) (remaining purposes)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Section 15

01.04.03

2003/766

Sections 16 to 20

20.06.03

2003/1397

Section 21

01.04.03

2003/766

Sections 22 to 69

20.06.03

2003/1397

Sections 71 to 120

20.06.03

2003/1397

Section 121

20.06.03

2003/1397

Sections 122 to 130

20.06.03

2003/1397

Part 4 of the Act (sections 131 to 184)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Section 185 (partially)

01.04.03

2003/766

Section 185 (partially)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Section 186

01.04.03

2003/766

Section 187

20.06.03

2003/1397

Part 6 (Sections 188 to 202)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Sections 203 to 206

20.06.03

2003/1397

Section 207

01.04.03

2003/766

Sections 208 and 209

20.06.03

2003/1397

Part 8 (Sections 210 to 236)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Part 9 (Sections 237 to 247)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Section 248 (partially)

15.09.03

2003/2093

Section 249

15.09.03

2003/2093

Section 250(1) (partially)

18.03.03

2003/765

Section 250 (remaining purposes)

15.09.03

2003/2093

Section 251

15.09.03

2003/2093

Section 252

15.09.03

2003/2093

Section 253

15.09.03

2003/2093

Section 254

15.09.03

2003/2093

Section 255

15.09.03

2003/2093

Section 256 (partially)

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 257

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 258

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 259

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 260

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 261

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 262

15.09.03

2003/2093

Section 263

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 264

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 265

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 266

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 267

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 268

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 269

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 270 (partially)

18.12.03

2003/3340

Section 270 (remaining purposes)

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 271

18.12.03

2003/3340

Section 272

01.04.04

2003/2093

Section 273

18.03.03

2003/765

Section 274

01.04.03

2003/766

Section 275

18.03.03

2003/765

Section 276(1)(partially)

18.03.03

2003/765

Section 276(1)(partially)

01.04.03

2003/766

Section 276(1) (remaining purposes)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Section 276(2) to (4)

18.03.03

2003/765

Section 277

18.03.03

2003/765

Section 278 (partially)

01.04.03

2003/766

Section 278 (partially)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Section 278 (partially)

15.09.03

2003/2093

Section 278 (partially)

01.04.04

2003/2093

Schedules 1 and 2

01.04.03

2003/766

Schedule 3, Parts 1 and 3

01.04.03

2003/766

Schedule 3, Part 2

18.03.03

2003/765

Schedule 4 (partially)

01.04.03

2003/766

Schedule 4 (remaining purposes)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 5 (partially)

01.04.03

2003/766

Schedule 5 (partially)

18.07.04

2004/1866

Schedule 7

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 8

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 9 (partially)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 10

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 11 (partially)

01.04.03

2003/766

Schedule 11 (partially)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 12

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 13

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 14

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 15

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 16

15.09.03

2003/2093

Schedule 17 (partially)

15.09.03

2003/2093

Schedule 18

15.09.03

2003/2093

Schedule 19 (partially)

01.04.04

2003/2093

Schedule 20

01.04.04

2003/2093

Schedule 21

01.04.04

2003/2093

Schedule 22

01.04.04

2003/2093

Schedule 23

01.04.04

2003/2093

Schedule 24 (partially)

18.03.03

2003/765

Schedule 24 (partially)

01.04.03

2003/766

Schedule 24 (remaining purposes)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 25 (partially)

01.04.03

2003/766

Schedule 25 (partially)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 26 (partially)

01.04.03

2003/766

Schedule 26 (partially)

20.06.03

2003/1397

Schedule 26 (partially)

15.09.03

2003/2093

Schedule 26 (partially)

01.04.04

2003/2093