4AB Guidance on social and environmental matters.

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;

b

the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council (in this Act referred to as “the Council”);

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.