Part 9: Secretary of State’s functions in relation to regulated services Strategic Priorities Section 173: Consultation and parliamentary procedure
This section sets out the consultation and parliamentary procedure requirements that must be satisfied before the Secretary of State can designate a statement of strategic priorities under section 172.
	The Secretary of State must consult OFCOM and other persons the Secretary of State considers appropriate on a draft of the statement. For example, the Secretary of State may wish to consult other government departments, industry bodies, academics, policy institutes/think-tanks, or other regulators.
	Subsection (3) provides for a period of at least 40 days for such consultation with OFCOM, following which the Secretary of State must make any changes to the draft statement that appear necessary to the Secretary of State. They must then lay the draft statement before Parliament (subsection (4)) where it is subject to the negative resolution procedure as set out in subsections (5) - (7). After that procedure the Secretary of State may designate the statement.