Regulatory Reform Act 2001

5 Preliminary consultation

(1) Before a Minister makes an order under section 1, he shall—

(a) consult such organisations as appear to him to be representative of interests substantially affected by his proposals,

(b) where his proposals relate to the functions of one or more statutory bodies, consult those bodies, or organisations which appear to him to be representative of those bodies,

(c) in such cases as he considers appropriate, consult the Law Commission or the Scottish Law Commission,

(d) where the provision made by the order would extend to Wales, consult the National Assembly for Wales, and

(e) consult such other persons as he considers appropriate.

(2) In subsection (1) “statutory body” means—

(a) a body established by an enactment or by any instrument made under an enactment, or

(b) the holder of any office so established.

(3) If it appears to the Minister, as a result of the consultation required by subsection (1), that it is appropriate to vary the whole or any part of his proposals, he shall undertake such further consultation with respect to the variations as appears to him to be appropriate.

(4) If, before the day on which this Act is passed, any consultation was undertaken which, had it been undertaken after that day, would to any extent have satisfied the requirements of subsection (1), those requirements shall to that extent be taken to have been satisfied.