National Health Service Act 2006

Preliminary steps to be taken

2 (1) Before making a pilot scheme, the Primary Care Trust concerned must prepare proposals for the scheme and submit them to the Secretary of State.

(2) But proposals may be submitted by a Primary Care Trust only with the agreement of the other proposed participants.

(3) In preparing proposals for a pilot scheme, a Primary Care Trust must comply with any directions given to it by the Secretary of State as to—

(a) the matters to be dealt with, and information to be included, in the proposals, and

(b) the procedure to be followed by the Primary Care Trust.

(4) Before submitting proposals for a pilot scheme, a Primary Care Trust must (in addition to complying with any requirements about consultation imposed by or under any other enactment) comply with any directions given to it by the Secretary of State about the extent to which, and manner in which, it must consult on the proposals.

(5) The Secretary of State may give directions—

(a) requiring a Primary Care Trust to submit proposals to him,

(b) as to the matters to which a Primary Care Trust must have regard in making any recommendation to the Secretary of State when submitting proposals for a pilot scheme,

(c) as to the form in which any such recommendation must be made,

(d) requiring Primary Care Trusts to provide the Secretary of State with summaries (prepared and presented in the manner specified in the directions) of all requests received by them during the period specified in the directions.

(6) A direction under this paragraph may be given so as to apply—

(a) generally in circumstances specified in the direction, or

(b) in relation to a particular case.