(1)The Advisory Council shall, before providing advice on any matter which it is considering—
(a)consult such other persons having an interest in that matter as it thinks fit; and
(b)have regard to any representations made to it by any person so consulted.
(2)The Advisory Council shall have regard to any guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers as to compliance with subsection (1) above.
(3)The SQA and the Advisory Council shall each, in exercise of its functions, consult the other in every case in which it appears to the body exercising the function appropriate to do so.
(4)The SQA and the Advisory Council shall have regard to any guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers as to the fulfilment, by each, of the requirement imposed by subsection (3) above.