6Protocol between the Commission and the Scottish Ministers
(1)It is the duty of the Commission and the Scottish Ministers to agree a protocol for their engagement in relation to the forecasting and assessment process.
(2)In particular, the protocol must set out—
(a)the arrangements for meetings and communications between the parties (and their staff),
(b)the expectations as to the information to be exchanged between the parties during the forecasting and assessment process including, in particular, in relation to draft reports prepared under section 2, and
(c)which (if any) documents relating to the forecasting and assessment process (other than reports prepared under section 2) are to be published and when.
(3)The Commission must publish the protocol and may do so in such manner as it considers appropriate.
(4)The Commission and the Scottish Ministers may from time to time agree revisions to the protocol.
(5)Subsections (2) and (3) apply to a protocol which has been revised as they apply to the protocol agreed under subsection (1).
(6)For the purposes of this section, a reference to the forecasting and assessment process is a reference to the Commission’s performance of its functions under sections 2 and 5.