R v Monopolies and Mergers Commission, ex parte Yorkshire Tyne Tees Television [1993] 1 WLR 1191

Court of Appeal

Facts: Yorkshire Tyne Tees Television challenged a decision by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, which determined that their acquisition of several bus companies in South Yorkshire constituted a "substantial part of the UK" and required divestment.

Issue: Whether the Commission's determination of a "substantial part" was reviewable or not.

Held: The Court of Appeal restored the decision of the Commissioners, finding that their interpretation of "substantial part" was within a reasonable spectrum of possible meanings. The decision was deemed reasonable even though the term was not strictly defined.

Judicial Statement: Lord Mustill noted that while definitions of jurisdictional terms might be vague, the Commission's decision fell within a broadly acceptable range of interpretations.