(1)Before issuing or revising a code of practice under section 20 the Secretary of State shall consult such persons as he considers appropriate.
(2)Before issuing a code the Secretary of State shall—
(a)publish a draft code,
(b)consider any representations made to him about the draft,
(c)if he thinks it appropriate, modify the draft in the light of any representations made to him.
(3)If, having followed the procedure under subsection (2), the Secretary of State decides to issue a code, he shall lay a draft code before each House of Parliament.
(4)If the draft code is approved by resolution of each House of Parliament, the Secretary of State shall issue the code in the form of the draft.
(5)In this section and section 20(3) and (4)—
(a)a reference to a code includes a reference to a revised code,
(b)a reference to a draft code includes a reference to a draft revision, and
(c)a reference to issuing a code includes a reference to issuing part of a revised code.