7Approval of integration scheme
(1)After complying with section 6 and before the prescribed day, a local authority and a Health Board must jointly submit an integration scheme to the Scottish Ministers for approval.
(2)The Scottish Ministers may—
(a)approve the scheme submitted under subsection (1),
(b)refuse to approve it.
(3)If the Scottish Ministers refuse to approve the scheme they must—
(a)give the local authority and the Health Board reasons for the refusal (including identifying which particular parts of the scheme caused them to decide to refuse approval),
(b)explain how the scheme should be modified, and
(c)specify a day by which the local authority and the Health Board must jointly modify the scheme and submit it for approval.
(4)Following submission of a modified scheme under subsection (3), the Scottish Ministers may—
(a)approve the modified scheme, or
(b)refuse to approve it.
(5)Where the Scottish Ministers refuse to approve a modified scheme, the local authority and the Health Board are to be treated as if they failed before the prescribed day to submit an integration scheme under this section; and section 51 applies accordingly.
(6)The Scottish Ministers may, on their own account or on the request of the local authority and the Health Board, specify that subsection (1) applies as if the prescribed day were such later day as the Scottish Ministers may specify.
(7)A request under subsection (6) must be made in writing and must include the reasons for the request.
(8)A day specified under subsection (6) is to be treated as if it were the prescribed day for the purposes of the other provisions of this Act.