Commentary on provisions of Act Section 1: Guidance on meeting the needs of persons with Down syndrome:
Subsection (1) imposes on the Secretary of State a duty to give guidance to relevant authorities on steps it would be appropriate to take in order to meet the needs of people with Down syndrome when exercising relevant functions. The meaning of "relevant authorities" and "relevant functions" is included in the Schedule to the Act.
	Subsection (2) imposes on relevant authorities a duty to have due regard to the guidance in the exercise of relevant functions.
	Subsection (3) sets out that before giving the guidance, the Secretary of State must consult with such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
	Subsection (4) places a duty on the Secretary of State to publish the guidance in a manner that the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
	Subsection (5) imposes a duty on the Secretary of State to lay any guidance under section 1 before Parliament once it is published.
	Subsection (6) sets out that the Secretary of State may revise the guidance from time to time. It states that subsections (2) to (5) also apply in relation to any revised guidance – that is, the requirement for relevant authorities to have due regard, the requirement to consult, and the requirement to publish the revised guidance in an appropriate manner and lay it before Parliament.
	Subsection (7) directs the reader to the Schedule, for meaning of "relevant authorities" and "relevant functions" in respect of the Act.