6(1)The Director must, before the beginning of each financial year apart from the first, prepare a plan setting out how he intends to exercise his functions during the financial year (an annual plan).
(2)The annual plan must, in particular, set out how the Director intends to exercise his functions in Northern Ireland.
(3)The annual plan must also include a statement of—
(a)the Director’s objectives for the financial year;
(b)any performance targets which he has for the financial year (whether or not relating to his objectives);
(c)his priorities for the financial year;
(d)the financial resources expected to be available to him for the financial year;
(e)his proposed allocation of those resources.
(4)Once the annual plan has been prepared the Director must send a copy to the Secretary of State for his approval.
(5)If the Secretary of State does not approve the annual plan—
(a)he must give the Director his reasons for not approving it, and
(b)he may require the Director to revise it in the manner specified by the Secretary of State.
(6)The Director must revise the annual plan, but if sub-paragraph (5)(b) applies he must do so in the manner specified by the Secretary of State.
(7)The Director must send a copy of the revised annual plan to the Secretary of State for his approval.