Lords asks government to think again on Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill will create a regime to empower the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to regulate and increase competition in digital markets.

The bill also updates powers to enforce competition law and resolve consumer disputes, and protects consumers from unfair commercial, subscription, prepayment and saving schemes.

Detailed scrutiny

Report stage is an extra chance for members to closely scrutinise elements of the bill and make changes.   

Members speaking on the final day of report stage put forward changes (PDF) to the bill to be discussed, including a proposal to ban ownership of UK newspapers and periodicals by overseas governments.

Vote

There was also one division (vote) on a proposed change to the bill, in which members agreed to tighter rules on secondary ticketing websites, with the aim of reducing fraud.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Explore further information

Find out more about the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill in the House of Lords Library briefing.

Next steps

Third reading, a chance for members to make sure the eventual law is effective, workable and without loopholes, is scheduled for Tuesday 26 March.

What's happened so far?

Report stage day one: Monday 11 March

There were five divisions (votes) on proposed changes to the bill.

Members agreed to four changes on:

• countering benefits of anti-competitive behaviour
• judicial review principles for appeals against penalty decisions
• publication of CMA guidance on the exercise of its functions
• proportionality as a factor regarding CMA intervention decisions.

A fifth vote on the CMA's ability to tackle anti-competitive behaviour resulted in a tie, which under House of Lords procedure means the amendment was not agreed to.

Catch up

• Read the text of proposed changes (PDF).
• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Committee stage 

Line-by-line examination of the bill took place during committee stage between Monday 22 January and Wednesday 7 February 2024.

Second reading 

Second reading, a full debate on the key principles of the bill, took place on Tuesday 5 December 2023.

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