PART 5STRATEGY AND REPORTING

36Review and publication of strategy

1

The Scottish Ministers must review the strategy prepared under section 35 before the end of the period of 3 years beginning with—

a

the date on which the strategy was last published, or

b

if subsequent to that date a report was prepared under subsection (2)(a) but the strategy was not revised under subsection (2)(b), the date of the most recent report.

2

Following a review under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers—

a

must prepare a report on the review, including in particular Ministers’ assessment of the extent to which the strategy has been complied with, and

b

may revise the strategy.

3

If, following a review, the Scottish Ministers decide not to revise the strategy under subsection (2)(b), the report prepared under subsection (2)(a) must set out their reasons for not doing so.

4

Before preparing or reviewing the strategy, the Scottish Ministers must consult such persons as they consider likely to have an interest in the strategy.

5

The Scottish Ministers must—

a

publish the strategy within 1 year of section 1 coming into force,

b

publish each revision of the strategy,

c

publish each report prepared under subsection (2)(a), and

d

lay before the Scottish Parliament—

i

a copy of the strategy and each revision of the strategy, and

ii

each report prepared under subsection (2)(a).