Commentary on Sections Consent under section 51 of the 2003 Act: prescribed information
109.Section 50 of the Act inserts a new section 51B into the 2003 Act. This section sets out the information which Ministers must take account of when deciding whether to approve a community body’s exercise of the right to buy.
110.The new section 51B of the 2003 Act confers a power on Ministers to specify the type of information which a community body must provide in regulations, including, in particular, information relating to the matters referred to in subsection (3) of section 51 of the 2003 Act. Subsection (3) of the new section 51B of the 2003 Act requires that the information must be provided in a form set out by Ministers in regulations. Ministers can also take account of any information which they consider to be relevant, regardless of whether it is of the type specified in regulations.
111.Subsection (5) of the new section 51B of the 2003 Act provides that Ministers have 7 days from receipt of information to request further information. Furthermore, in terms of subsection (6) of the new section 51B of the 2003 Act, the community body has 14 days from the receipt of such a request to provide Ministers with the information.