Commentary on Sections and Schedules Part 1 – National Targets, Strategies and Reports (Sections 1 to 18) Section 10: Provision of advice by Commission and consultation with others
47.Section 10 sets out the role of the Commission in providing advice to the Government and specifies who the Secretary of State must consult in preparing UK strategies. Subsection (1) places a duty on the Secretary of State to request the advice of the Commission when preparing a UK strategy. The Secretary of State must specify in the request the date by which the Commission must give its advice.
48.Subsection (2) allows the Secretary of State at any time to request the advice of the Commission (by a specified deadline) on matters connected with a UK strategy (subsection (2)(a)) or the targets in sections 3 to 6 (subsection (2)(b)).
49.Subsection (3) requires the Secretary of State to have regard to advice provided by the Commission.
50.Subsection (4) provides that, when preparing a UK strategy, the Secretary of State must consult: such local authorities or associations of local authorities in England as the Secretary of State thinks fit; the devolved administrations; such children and organisations working with or representing children, as the Secretary of State thinks fit; and such parents and organisations working with or representing parents, as the Secretary of State thinks fit. The Secretary of State may also consult other persons.
51.Subsection (5) relates to the preparation of a UK strategy. It provides that when preparing a strategy, the Secretary of State must have regard to any Scottish, Welsh, or Northern Ireland strategy.