Overview
- The Department for Business and Trade is preparing proposals to abolish the CMA’s independent panels and shift Phase‑2 oversight to new board sub-committees that may include the chief executive.
- The package would merge market studies and market investigations into a single procedure expected to run six to twelve months.
- Ministers are examining curbs on the CMA’s jurisdiction, potentially limiting scrutiny of deals between overseas companies with limited UK exposure.
- Officials have considered removing appeals on the merits of merger rulings while retaining the option of judicial review.
- Sources say Business Secretary Peter Kyle could unveil the plans at Davos as part of a growth push, while critics warn of weakened independence and DBT and the CMA declined to comment.