Commentary on provisions of Act Section 18: Monitoring of designated vendor directions Section 105Z12: Monitoring of designated vendor directions
Subsection (1) enables the Secretary of State to give Ofcom a monitoring direction requiring Ofcom to obtain information relating to a provider’s compliance with a designated vendor direction (given under section 105Z1) and to provide information in a report to the Secretary of State. Ofcom will be engaged in information collection and provision only. The Secretary of State will be responsible for compliance decisions.
	Subsection (2) sets out the nature of the information which Ofcom may be required to obtain under subsection (1).
	Subsection (3) states that a monitoring direction may prescribe the form and content of the report to be provided by Ofcom under subsection (1). Ofcom may be required to set out their analysis in the report (subsection (4)) and may be required to provide the Secretary of State with separate reports on different matters, such as in relation to different direction requirements or in relation to plans (subsection (5)).
	Subsection (6) states that Ofcom may be required to report to the Secretary of State at specified times and/or intervals.
	Subsection (7) requires Ofcom to use their powers to obtain information in an appropriate manner when preparing a report under this section.
	Subsection (8) allows the Secretary of State to give Ofcom more than one monitoring direction in relation to a designated vendor direction.
	Subsection (9) allows the Secretary of State to vary or revoke a monitoring direction.
	Subsection (10) states that the Secretary of State is required to consult with Ofcom before issuing or varying a monitoring direction.