12Business plan
(1)The Council must, before the submission day for each period of 3 years, prepare and submit to the Scottish Ministers a plan (a “business plan”) describing how the Council proposes to carry out its functions during the period.
(2)The “submission day” is—
(a)for the period of 3 years beginning on the day on which this section comes into force, the day specified by order made by the Scottish Ministers,
(b)for each succeeding period of 3 years, the first day of the period.
(3)A business plan must—
(a)be prepared in such form as the Scottish Ministers may direct,
(b)contain the information specified in subsection (4) and such other information as they may direct, and
(c)be submitted by such time as they may direct.
(4)The information referred to in subsection (3)(b) is details of the matters in relation to which the Council proposes to prepare sentencing guidelines.
(5)The Council may include in a business plan such other information as it considers appropriate.
(6)In preparing a business plan, the Council must consult—
(a)the Scottish Ministers,
(b)the Lord Advocate,
(c)the Lord Justice General, and
(d)such other persons as it considers appropriate.
(7)The Scottish Ministers must lay before the Scottish Parliament each business plan submitted to them.
(8)The Council must, as soon as practicable after a business plan has been laid before the Parliament, publish it in such manner as it considers appropriate.
(9)The Council may at any time during a period covered by a business plan review the plan for the period and submit to the Scottish Ministers a revised plan.
(10)Subsections (3) to (8) apply to a revised plan as they apply to a business plan.