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| Coordination of inspections, &c. |
24. - (1) In arranging for or carrying out-
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(a) inspections of best value authorities, or |
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(b) inquiries or investigations in relation to best value authorities, |
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a person or body to whom this section applies shall have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State for the purposes of securing the coordination of different kinds of inspection, inquiry and investigation.
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(2) This section applies to-
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(a) the Audit Commission; |
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(b) an inspector, assistant inspector or other officer appointed under section 24(1) of the Fire Services Act 1947 (inspectors of fire brigades); |
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(c) Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England; |
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(d) Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales; |
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(e) a person carrying out an inquiry under section 7C of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (inquiries); |
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(f) a person carrying out an inspection under section 48 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (inspection of premises used for provision of community care services); |
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(g) a person conducting an inspection under section 80 of the Children Act 1989 (inspection of children's homes, &c.) or an inquiry under section 81 of that Act (inquiries in relation to children); |
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(h) a person authorised under section 139A(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (reports on administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit); |
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(i) an inspector appointed under section 54 of the Police Act 1996 (inspectors of constabulary). |
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(3) The Secretary of State may by order provide for this section to apply to a person or body specified in the order.
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| Guidance. |
25. - (1) This section has effect in relation to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State under this Part.
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(2) The Secretary of State-
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(a) may issue guidance to or in respect of best value authorities generally or to or in respect of one or more particular authorities; |
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(b) may issue different guidance to or in respect of different authorities; |
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(c) must, before he issues guidance, consult the authorities concerned or persons appearing to him to represent them; |
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(d) must arrange for guidance to be published. |
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(3) Before issuing guidance under section 10 the Secretary of State shall, in addition to the consultation required by subsection (2)(c) above, consult the Audit Commission.
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(4) Before issuing guidance under section 24 the Secretary of State shall, in addition to the consultation required by subsection (2)(c) above, consult the persons or bodies concerned.
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| Commencement. |
26. - (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), sections 1 to 19 and 21 to 25 shall come into force at the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.
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(2) The Secretary of State may by order provide for any of those sections to come into force in relation to England before the time appointed by subsection (1).
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(3) The National Assembly for Wales may by order provide for any of those sections to come into force in relation to Wales before the time appointed by subsection (1).
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(4) An order under subsection (2) or (3) may appoint different days for different purposes.
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| Orders. |
27. - (1) An order or regulations under this Part-
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(a) shall be made by statutory instrument, and |
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(b) may include supplementary, incidental, consequential and transitional provisions. |
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(2) An order under section 4, 5, 6, 7 or 24, and regulations under section 22, shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
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| Modifications for Wales. |
28. - (1) In its application to Wales this Part shall have effect with these modifications-
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(a) for each reference to the Secretary of State there shall be substituted a reference to the National Assembly for Wales; |
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(b) sections 2(6), 18(3) and 27(2) shall be omitted. |
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(2) But subsection (1) shall not apply-
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(a) in relation to an authority falling within section 1(1)(d) or (e), or |
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(b) in relation to sections 15 to 17 or section 26. |
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(3) In exercising a power under section 15 the Secretary of State-
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(a) shall not make any provision which has effect in relation to Wales unless he has consulted the National Assembly for Wales, and |
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(b) shall not amend, or modify or exclude the application of, legislation made by the National Assembly for Wales, unless the Assembly consents. |
