Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reduction in Competition Appeal Tribunal filings from 17 in 2023 to 3 in 2025 to date; and what assessment have they made of economic impact on jobs, investment, and growth in the UK’s legal services sector as a result of this reduction.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Collective actions before the Competition Appeal Tribunal provide an important route to redress for consumers that have suffered as a result of anti-competitive behaviour and play a key role in the wider competition enforcement landscape. Truly competitive markets are to the benefit of consumers, businesses, and the wider UK economy.
The operation and impact of the opt-out collective actions regime is currently subject to review, with a call for evidence having closed on 14 October 2025. Responses are currently being considered, and a consultation will be brought forward in due course once options for improvement have been identified.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the scale of the economic impact of collective action filings in the Competition Appeal Tribunal, in particular in terms of jobs, growth and inward investment in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Collective actions before the Competition Appeal Tribunal provide an important route to redress for consumers that have suffered as a result of anti-competitive behaviour and play a key role in the wider competition enforcement landscape. Truly competitive markets are to the benefit of consumers, businesses, and the wider UK economy.
The operation and impact of the opt-out collective actions regime is currently subject to review, with a call for evidence having closed on 14 October 2025. Responses are currently being considered, and a consultation will be brought forward in due course once options for improvement have been identified.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many collective proceedings applications were filed with the Competition Appeal Tribunal, broken down by opt-out and opt-in proceedings, in each month since July 2023.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
The following numbers of collective proceedings applications, broken down by opt-in and opt-out proceedings, have been filed with the Competition Appeal Tribunal in each month since July 2023:
Month / Year | Opt-Out | Opt-In |
Jul 23 | 4 | 0 |
Aug 23 | 2 | 0 |
Sep 23 | 1 | 0 |
Oct 23 | 0 | 0 |
Nov 23 | 4 | 0 |
Dec 23 | 4 | 0 |
Jan 24 | 0 | 0 |
Feb 24 | 1 | 0 |
Mar 24 | 1 | 0 |
Apr 24 | 0 | 0 |
May 24 | 1 | 0 |
Jun 24 | 4 | 0 |
Jul 24 | 0 | 0 |
Aug 24 | 1 | 0 |
Sep 24 | 0 | 0 |
Oct 24 | 0 | 0 |
Nov 24 | 1 | 0 |
Dec 24 | 2 | 0 |