Gas Act 1986

[F1 4AB Guidance on social and environmental matters. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State shall from time to time issue guidance about the making by the Authority of a contribution towards the attainment of any social or environmental policies set out or referred to in the guidance.

(2) The Authority shall, in carrying out its functions under this Part, have regard to any guidance issued under this section.

(3) Before issuing guidance under this section the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the Authority;

[F2 (b) Citizens Advice;

(ba) [F3 Consumer Scotland];]

(c) licence holders; and

(d) such other persons as the Secretary of State considers it appropriate to consult in relation to the guidance.

(4) A draft of any guidance proposed to be issued under this section shall be laid before each House of Parliament.

(5) Guidance shall not be issued under this section until after the period of forty days beginning with—

(a) the day on which the draft is laid before each House of Parliament; or

(b) if the draft is laid before the House of Lords on one day and the House of Commons on another, the later of those two days.

(6) If, before the end of that period, either House resolves that the guidance should not be issued, the Secretary of State must not issue it.

(7) In reckoning any period of forty days for the purposes of subsection (5) or (6), no account shall be taken of any time during which—

(a) Parliament is dissolved or prorogued; or

(b) both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.

(8) The Secretary of State shall arrange for any guidance issued under this section to be published in such manner as he considers appropriate.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 4AB inserted (20.12.2000) by 2000 c. 27, s. 10; S.I. 2000/3343, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-15)

F2 S. 4AB(3)(b)(ba) substituted for s. 4AB(3)(b) (1.4.2014) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading’s Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631), art. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 4(2) (with Sch. 1 para. 28, Sch. 2 paras. 13-15)

F3 Words in s. 4AB(3)(ba) substituted (13.1.2022) by The Consumer Scotland Act 2020 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/34), art. 1(1), Sch. para. 2(2) (with art. 5)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 4AB extended by 2000 c. 27, s. 5A(11) (as inserted (30.12.2003) by Sustainable Energy Act 2003 (c. 30), ss. 6, 9(8))

C2 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (24.8.2004 for specified purposes, 5.10.2004 in so far as not already in force) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 190(1), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2184, art. 2(1), Sch. 1; S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

C3 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (26.11.2008) by Energy Act 2008 (c. 32), ss. 102(1), 110(2)

C4 Ss. 4AA-4A excluded (26.1.2009) (with application in accordance with s. 90 of the amending Act) by Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (c. 28), ss. 89(3), 100(3) (with s. 101(2))

C5 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (8.4.2010) by Energy Act 2010 (c. 27), ss. 30(1), 38(1)

C6 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (18.12.2011) by Energy Act 2011 (c. 16), ss. 98(13), 121(3)

C7 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (18.12.2011) by Energy Act 2011 (c. 16), ss. 78(1), 121(3)

C8 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (21.3.2012) by Energy Act 2011 (c. 16), ss. 22(9), 121(1); S.I. 2012/873, art. 2(a)(v)

C9 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (18.2.2014) by Energy Act 2013 (c. 32), ss. 136(1), 156(2)

C10 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (18.2.2014) by Energy Act 2013 (c. 32), ss. 141(1), 156(2)

C11 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (23.7.2018) by Smart Meters Act 2018 (c. 14), ss. 6(12), 14(5)

C12 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 31.1.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 178(3), 334(1)(2)(h); S.I. 2024/32, reg. 3(a)(viii)

C13 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (11.1.2024) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 248(1)(2), 334(1); S.I. 2024/32, reg. 2(b)(iii)

C14 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (31.1.2024) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 178(1), 334(1); S.I. 2024/32, reg. 3(a)(viii)

C15 Ss. 4AA-4B applied (10.9.2024) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 196, 334(1); S.I. 2024/890, reg. 2(b)(vii)