Part 5: Miscellaneous Chapter 3: Miscellaneous Section 327: Duty of expedition on the CMA and sectoral regulators
This section makes provision for a duty of expedition on the CMA (and the sector regulators where relevant (see Schedule 29)) in relation to specified competition, consumer and digital markets functions, expanding and replacing the duty which previously applied in relation to its functions in relation to mergers under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002. It further makes amendments to sector specific legislation to impose an equivalent duty when sector regulators exercise competition functions.
	Subsection (1) inserts a new subsection (4) into section 25 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 so that, when making any decision, or otherwise taking action, for the purposes of any of its functions listed in Schedule 4A the CMA must have regard to the need for making a decision, or taking action, as soon as reasonably practicable. The obligation applies to all steps of any relevant investigatory, regulatory or enforcement process.
	Subsection (2) inserts Schedule 4A into the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 and sets out the competition, consumer and digital markets functions to which the duty of expedition applies. The functions listed are those where the CMA has casework functions.
	Subsection (3) repeals the former duty of expedition which applied in relation to the CMA’s merger functions under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002, and the modifications made to the application of duty by the Water Mergers (Modification of Enactments) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3202) for the purposes of the water merger regime set out in the Water Industry Act 1991.
	Subsection (4) gives effect to Schedule 29 which amends the relevant sectoral legislation to apply an equivalent duty of expedition to sector regulators when exercising competition functions.