558.This sets out the procedural requirements for preparing and designating a statement (including any amendments to a statement) (subsections (1) and (2)). Preparation of a draft statement may begin before the passing of this Act (subsection (9)). The Secretary of State must:
prepare a draft and consult the Authority, Scottish Ministers and Welsh Ministers on it (“first consultation”) (subsections (3) and (4));
revise the draft in light of responses to the first consultation and publish a revised draft for a wider consultation (that is, those mentioned above and any other persons that the Secretary of State considers appropriate) (“second consultation”) (subsection (5));
amend the revised draft in light of responses to the second consultation and prepare a report summarising the second consultation responses and any amendments made as a result (subsection (6)), and
lay the report and the final draft statement before Parliament, to be passed by affirmative resolution (subsections (7) and (8)).