(1)The Commission must, in respect of each 4 year period, lay before the Parliament a plan (referred to in this section as a “strategic plan”) setting out how the Commission and each Commissioner propose to perform their respective functions during the 4 year period.
(2)A strategic plan must, in particular, set out—
(a)the Commission’s and each Commissioner’s objectives and priorities during the 4 year period,
(b)how the Commission and each Commissioner propose to achieve them,
(c)timetables for doing so, and
(d)estimates of the costs of doing so.
(3)Before laying a strategic plan before the Parliament, the Commission must provide a draft of it to and invite, and (if any are given) consider, comments on it from—
(a)the Parliamentary corporation, and
(b)such other persons as the Commission think appropriate.
(4)The reference in subsection (3)(b) to other persons includes a reference to a committee of the Parliament.
(5)The Commission must lay each strategic plan before the Parliament not later than the beginning of the 4 year period to which the plan relates.
(6)The Commission must arrange for the publication of each strategic plan laid before the Parliament.
(7)The Commission may, at any time during a 4 year period, review the strategic plan for the period and lay a revised strategic plan before the Parliament.
(8)Subsections (2) to (7) apply to a revised strategic plan as they apply to a strategic plan.
(9)In that application, the reference in subsection (5) to the 4 year period is a reference to the period to which the revised strategic plan relates.
(10)In this section, “4 year period” means the period of four years beginning on 1 April next following the coming into force of this section and each subsequent period of four years.