Crime and Courts Act 2013

Section 4

SCHEDULE 2 The framework document & annual report

Part 1 The framework document

The document

1 (1) The framework document is a document which deals with ways in which the NCA is to operate, including—

(a) ways in which NCA functions are to be exercised (including arrangements for publishing information about the exercise of NCA functions and other matters relating to the NCA), and

(b) ways in which the NCA is to be administered (including governance and finances of the NCA).

(2) Section 6(2) makes further provision about what may be included in the framework document.

Duty to issue document

2 The Secretary of State must—

(a) issue the framework document;

(b) keep the framework document under review; and

(c) if the Secretary of State considers it appropriate, issue a new framework document (which may be wholly or partly different from the existing framework document).

Duty to have regard to document

3 The Secretary of State must have regard to the framework document in exercising functions in relation to the NCA, the Director General or any other NCA officer.

Role of Director General

4 (1) The Secretary of State must—

(a) consult the Director General in preparing any framework document; and

(b) obtain the consent of the Director General before issuing any framework document.

(2) The Director General’s duty to have regard to the annual plan in exercising functions does not apply in relation to functions under sub-paragraph (1).

Consultation with devolved administrations

5 The Secretary of State must consult—

(a) the Scottish Ministers, and

(b) the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland,

before issuing the first framework document or any other framework document which is, in the Secretary of State’s view, significantly different from the framework document it replaces.

Publication & distribution

6 (1) This paragraph applies on each occasion when the Secretary of State issues a framework document.

(2) The Secretary of State must—

(a) arrange for the framework document to be published in the manner which the Secretary of State considers appropriate,

(b) send a copy of the framework document to—

(i) the Scottish Ministers, and

(ii) the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland, and

(c) lay the framework document before Parliament.

(3) The Scottish Ministers must lay a copy of the framework document before the Scottish Parliament.

(4) The Department of Justice in Northern Ireland must lay a copy of the framework document before the Northern Ireland Assembly.

(5) Section 41(3) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 applies for the purposes of sub-paragraph (4) as it applies in relation to the laying of a statutory document under an enactment.

Part 2 The annual report

Duty to issue report

7 (1) As soon as possible after the end of each financial year, the Director General must issue a report on the exercise of the NCA functions during that year (the “annual report”).

(2) The annual report relating to a financial year must include an assessment of the extent to which the annual plan for that year has been carried out.

Publication & distribution

8 (1) The Director General must—

(a) arrange for the annual report to be published in the manner which the Director General considers appropriate, and

(b) send a copy of the annual report to—

(i) the strategic partners, and

(ii) the Secretary of State.

(2) The Secretary of State must lay a copy of the annual report before Parliament.

(3) The Scottish Ministers must lay a copy of the annual report before the Scottish Parliament.

(4) The Department of Justice in Northern Ireland must lay a copy of the annual report before the Northern Ireland Assembly.

(5) Section 41(3) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 applies for the purposes of sub-paragraph (4) as it applies in relation to the laying of a statutory document under an enactment.