(1)If the Archbishops' Council proposes to make an order under section 1, it must consult—
(a)the members of the General Synod,
(b)persons who have or exercise functions to which the proposals relate,
(c)persons who do not come within paragraph (b) but whose interests would nonetheless be substantially affected by the proposals, and
(d)such other persons as the Council considers appropriate.
(2)The Council may, where it considers it appropriate to do so, consult with organisations which appear to it to represent persons of the description given in subsection (1)(b) or (c); and if it does so, the Council is to be regarded as having complied with the duty to consult the persons concerned.
(3)If, as a result of consultation under subsection (1), it appears to the Council that it would be appropriate to change the whole or part of its proposals, it must undertake such further consultation on the changes as it considers appropriate.
(4)Before beginning a process of consultation under subsection (1) or (3), the Archbishops' Council must lay before each House of Parliament the documents which it proposes to send to each person or organisation it is going to consult.
(5)If, pending the commencement of this section, consultation was undertaken which, had it been undertaken after that commencement and after subsection (4) had been complied with, would to any extent have satisfied the requirements of this section—
(a)those requirements are to that extent to be taken to have been satisfied, and
(b)the Council must, as soon as reasonably practicable after that commencement, lay before each House of Parliament the documents which it has sent to the persons and organisations it has consulted.