22Consultation etc. in relation to code of practice under s. 21
(1)Where the Secretary of State proposes to issue a code of practice under section 21, the Secretary of State must—
(a)prepare a draft of the code, and
(b)consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate about the draft.
(2)Where the Secretary of State proposes to issue under section 21 a revised code which in the opinion of the Secretary of State would result in a substantial change in the code, the Secretary of State must—
(a)prepare a draft of the revised code, and
(b)consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate about the change.
(3)Where, following consultation under subsection (1) or (2), the Secretary of State issues the code or revised code (whether in the form of the draft or with such modifications as the Secretary of State thinks fit), it comes into force at the time when it is issued by the Secretary of State.
(4)Where—
(a)any document by reference to whose provisions the code operates as mentioned in section 21(2)(a) and (b) is a document published by the Secretary of State in connection with the Secretary of State’s functions relating to health or social care,
(b)the Secretary of State proposes to revise the document, and
(c)in the opinion of the Secretary of State, the revision would result in a substantial change in the code,
the Secretary of State must, before revising the document, consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate about the change.
(5)Where—
(a)any document by reference to whose provisions the code operates as mentioned in section 21(2)(a) and (b) is not one to which subsection (4)(a) of this section applies,
(b)the document is revised, and
(c)in the opinion of the Secretary of State, the revision results in a substantial change in the code,
the Secretary of State must consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate about whether the code should be revised in connection with the change.
(6)Consultation undertaken by the Secretary of State before the commencement of this section is as effective for the purposes of this section as consultation undertaken after that time.