4Progress reportsS
(1)The Scottish Ministers are to prepare, lay before the Scottish Parliament and publish progress reports in relation to British Sign Language in accordance with this section.
(2)A report under this section is—
(a)to set out the Scottish Ministers' views as to progress made in relation to the promotion, and facilitation of promotion, mentioned in section 1(1), and
(b)to set out the Scottish Ministers' views as to progress made by relevant public authorities, generally, in relation to the promotion, and facilitation of promotion, of the use and understanding of British Sign Language within their areas of responsibility.
(3)The first such report is—
(a)to be laid before the Scottish Parliament within the period of 3 years beginning with the date on which the first National Plan is published, and
(b)to relate to progress in the period from that date.
(4)Such reports are then—
(a)to be laid before the Scottish Parliament at intervals of no more than 6 years since the laying of the most recent such report, and
(b)to relate to progress in the period from the laying of the most recent report.
(5)A report under this section is to include, by reference to relevant plans—
(a)an account of measures taken and outcomes attained,
(b)examples of best practice, and
(c)examples, if there are any, of poor performance.
(6)For the purpose of subsection (5), “relevant plans” are—
(a)in relation to the first report under this section—
(i)the first National Plan,
(ii)any National Plan published subsequently, and
(iii)any Authority Plan of a listed authority published since the date on which the first National Plan was published,
(b)in relation to a subsequent report under this section—
(i)the National Plan which was the most recently published when the last report under this section was laid before the Scottish Parliament,
(ii)any National Plan published subsequently,
(iii)the Authority Plans of listed authorities which were the most recently published by those authorities when the last report under this section was laid before the Scottish Parliament, and
(iv)any Authority Plan of a listed authority published subsequently.
(7)As soon as reasonably practicable after laying a report under this section before the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Ministers are to publish the report.
(8)The requirement which this section imposes to publish a report under this section includes (but is not satisfied by) making the content of the report publicly available, in such form and manner as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate, in British Sign Language.