(1)The Utilities Act 2000 is amended as follows.
(2)After section 4 insert—
(1)As soon as reasonably practicable after the designation of a statement as the strategy and policy statement, the Authority must publish a document setting out the required information in relation to the statement.
(2)The Authority must include the required information in relation to a strategy and policy statement in the forward work programme for each financial year, subject to making such modifications to the information as the Authority considers appropriate from the version as last published under this subsection.
(3)The required information in relation to a strategy and policy statement to be set out in a document or forward work programme is—
(a)the strategy the Authority intends to adopt for the purpose of furthering the delivery of the policy outcomes contained in the statement (both in respect of the year in or for which the document or programme is issued and beyond);
(b)the things the Authority proposes to do in implementing that strategy (including when the Authority proposes to do them);
(c)the ways in which the Authority has had regard to the strategic priorities contained in the statement in setting out the information required under paragraphs (a) and (b).
(4)The duty under subsection (1) does not apply if—
(a)the Authority does not think it reasonably practicable to publish the document mentioned in that subsection before the time when the Authority is next required to publish a forward work programme, and
(b)the Authority includes the required information in that forward work programme.
(5)The duty under subsection (2) does not apply in relation to the first financial year beginning after the designation of the statement if—
(a)the Authority does not think it reasonably practicable to include the required information in the forward work programme for that year, and
(b)the Authority includes the required information in a document published under subsection (1).
(6)The duty under subsection (2) does not apply in relation to a financial year if the Secretary of State gives notice to the Authority under this subsection that the statement's designation—
(a)will be withdrawn before the beginning of the year, or
(b)is expected to have been withdrawn before the beginning of the year.
(7)Subsections (4) to (6) of section 4 (notice requirements) apply to a document published under subsection (1) as they apply to a forward work programme.
(8)In this section—
“designation”, in relation to a strategy and policy statement, means designation of the statement by the Secretary of State under Part 5 of the Energy Act 2013;
“forward work programme” has the meaning given by section 4(1);
“policy outcomes”, “strategic priorities” and “strategy and policy statement” have the same meaning as in Part 5 of the Energy Act 2013.”
(3)In section 5 (annual and other reports of Authority), after subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)The annual report for each year shall also include a report on—
(a)the ways in which the Authority has carried out its duties under section 132(1) and (2) of the Energy Act 2013 in relation to the strategy and policy statement (so far as the statement's designation was in effect during the whole or any part of the year), and
(b)the extent to which the Authority has done the things set out under section 4A in a forward work programme or other document as the things the Authority proposed to do during that year in implementing its strategy for furthering the delivery of the policy outcomes contained in the statement (see subsection (3)(b) of that section).
(2B)The report mentioned in subsection (2A) must, in particular, include—
(a)the Authority's assessment of how the carrying out of its functions during the year has contributed to the delivery of the policy outcomes contained in the strategy and policy statement, and
(b)if the Authority has failed to do any of the things mentioned in subsection (2A)(b), an explanation for the failure and the actions the Authority proposes to take to remedy it.
(2C)In subsections (2A) and (2B)—
“forward work programme” has the meaning given by section 4(1);
“policy outcomes” and “strategy and policy statement” have the same meaning as in Part 5 of the Energy Act 2013.”