(1)A listed authority’s first Authority Plan is to be published as soon as reasonably practicable after (and in any event no later than 12 months after) the publication of the first applicable National Plan.
(2)A subsequent Authority Plan of the listed authority is to be published as soon as is reasonably practicable after (and in any event no later than 6 months after) each National Plan subsequent to the first applicable National Plan.
(3)For the purpose of subsections (1) and (2), the “first applicable National Plan” is—
(a)where the authority is a listed authority on the date on which this Act comes into force, or becomes a listed authority before the publication of the first National Plan, the first National Plan,
(b)where the authority becomes a listed authority after the publication of the first National Plan, the most recently published National Plan when the authority becomes a listed authority.
(4)Subsections (1) to (3) are subject, in the case of an authority which becomes a listed authority after the date on which this Act comes into force, to section 6(3).
(5)As soon as reasonably practicable after a listed authority has revised an Authority Plan, the authority is to publish that plan in a form in which the changes made are clearly indicated.
(6)Subject to subsection (7), publication under this section is to be in such manner as the authority considers appropriate.
(7)In publishing an Authority Plan (or a revised Authority Plan) under this section, a listed authority is to have regard to any guidance issued for the purposes of this section by the Scottish Ministers.
(8)A requirement which this section imposes to publish an Authority Plan includes (but is not satisfied by) making the content of the plan publicly available, in such form and manner as the listed authority publishing it considers appropriate, in British Sign Language.
(9)A requirement which this section imposes to publish a revised Authority Plan includes (but is not satisfied by) making the content of the plan, and an explanation of the changes it contains, publicly available, in such form and manner as the listed authority publishing it considers appropriate, in British Sign Language.