7Consultation on strategy
(1)In preparing the fuel poverty strategy, the Scottish Ministers must consult such persons as they consider appropriate.
(2)The persons consulted under subsection (1) must include—
(a)individuals who are living, or have lived, in fuel poverty,
(b)local authorities,
(c)disabled people,
(d)people with long-term illness,
(e)older people,
(f)individuals living in rural areas, and
(g)the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel.
(3)For the purpose of subsection (1), it is immaterial that anything done by way of consultation was done—
(a)before the Bill for this Act was passed, or
(b)after that but before this section comes into force.
(4)The Scottish Ministers must lay the proposed fuel poverty strategy before the Scottish Parliament—
(a)in the case of the first strategy, before the expiry of the period of 1 year beginning with the day on which section 6 comes into force,
(b)in the case of a revised strategy, following a review under section 6(5).
(5)The Scottish Ministers may not complete their preparation of the fuel poverty strategy until after the expiry of the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the proposed strategy is laid before the Scottish Parliament (taking no account of any time during which the Parliament is dissolved or in recess for more than 4 days).