Part 4: CMA: Referrals and functions Chapter 1: Functions on referrals of subsidies and schemes Section 54: Cooling off period following mandatory referral
This section makes provision as to the ‘cooling-off’ period that must elapse before a public authority may give a subsidy or make a scheme on which the CMA has published a report before the end of the reporting period. This ensures that the public authority must wait for a short period during which it may wish to reflect on the CMA’s findings before deciding whether to give the subsidy or make the subsidy scheme.
	The Secretary of State may extend the cooling-off period if the Secretary of State considers that the report has identified serious deficiencies in the public authority’s assessment as to whether the subsidy or scheme would comply with the subsidy control requirements in Chapters 1 and 2 of Part 2. The cooling-off period may not be extended by more than 30 working days.