24.—(1) The Council shall, at such time, in such form and in respect of such period as the Department may direct, prepare and submit to the Department a programme of its proposed activities in exercise of its functions (referred to in this Article as “a work programme”).
(2) A work programme submitted to the Department under this Article shall include—
(a)in respect of each activity mentioned in the programme, an estimate of the Council’s expenditure and receipts;
(b)such other matters as the Department may direct.
(3) Before submitting a work programme under this Article, the Council shall consult—
(a)the other Council;
(b)the boards; and
(c)such other bodies or persons as it thinks fit.
(4) The Council shall seek to secure that a work programme submitted under this Article in respect of any period is compatible with any work programme submitted under this Article by the other Council in respect of that period.
(5) The Department may request the Council to furnish such information in connection with any work programme submitted to the Department as the Department may require, including information as to the results of consultations under paragraph (3).
(6) The Department may, after making such modifications, if any, in the work programme as, after consultation with the Council, it considers necessary, approve any work programme submitted under this Article.
(7) The Council may at any time, and shall if the Department so directs, prepare and submit to the Department a revised work programme or an amendment to an existing work programme and paragraphs (2) to (6) shall apply in relation to any such revised work programme or amendment as they apply in relation to the original work programme.
(8) It shall be the duty of the Council—
(a)to carry out the activities in a work programme approved under this Article in accordance with that programme;
(b)not to carry out any activities or incur any expenditure in any period except in accordance with the work programme approved under this Article in respect of that period.