UK: CMA to enter Scotland as Brexit approaches

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to boost its presence in Scotland, as it prepares for the UK’s exit from the European Union.

The watchdog aims to increase its Edinburgh contingent from three to about 25-30 employees, “with ambitions to grow further”. Its workload is expected to grow as work previously led from Brussels comes to the UK. The CMA’s chief executive will outline the plans during a visit to Edinburgh.

In a statement, the regulator said the expansion would be “a big part” of the organisation’s preparation for Brexit.

It added, “This is expected to increase its merger reviews and investigations into cartels and other anti-competitive behaviours as work previously led from Brussels comes to the UK.

“It will allow the CMA to build even stronger relationships with consumer and business groups, other regulators in Scotland as well as the Scottish government and parliament, and increase its capability to carry out UK-wide projects from Scotland.”

The new roles will not focus exclusively on Scottish cases, although the CMA said it had previously addressed a number of major Scottish competition and consumer issues.

Full Content: Scottish Business News Network

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