(1)If a draft multi-area agreement is submitted to the Secretary of State under section 125, the Secretary of State may by notice in writing to the responsible authority—
(a)approve the draft,
(b)require the responsible authority to modify the draft, or
(c)reject the draft.
(2)If the Secretary of State approves a draft multi-area agreement, a multi-area agreement in the form of the draft has effect for the period specified in it.
(3)A requirement to modify a draft multi-area agreement operates for the purposes of section 125 as a direction under that section to prepare and submit a further draft of a multi-area agreement.
(4)If the Secretary of State rejects a draft multi-area agreement, the Secretary of State may not give a further direction under section 125 based on the same request under section 124.