Northern Ireland Act 1998

12 (1) Paragraphs 6, 7 and 11(2)(b) and (3) do not apply to a government department which is such a public authority as is mentioned in section 75(3)(a).

(2) On receipt of a scheme submitted by such a government department under paragraph 2 or 3 the Commission shall—

(a) approve it; or

(b) request the department to make a revised scheme.

(3) A request under sub-paragraph (2)(b) shall be treated in the same way as a request under paragraph 3(1)(b).

(4) Where a request is made under sub-paragraph (2)(b), the government department shall, if it does not submit a revised scheme to the Commission before the end of the period of six months beginning with the date of the request, send to the Commission a written statement of the reasons for not doing so.

(5) The Commission may lay before Parliament and the Assembly a report of any investigation such as is mentioned in paragraph 11(1) relating to a government department such as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (1).