The Secretary of State must prepare, and may revise, a protocol about the exercise of his power to make an order under section 22(2).
The protocol must in particular make provision about persons or descriptions of persons that the Secretary of State will consult before exercising that power.
The Secretary of State must have regard to the protocol in exercising that power.
In preparing the protocol, or any revisions to it which appear to him to be significant, the Secretary of State—
must consult fire and rescue authorities or persons considered by him to represent them;
must consult persons considered by him to represent employees of fire and rescue authorities;
may consult any other persons he considers appropriate.
The Secretary of State must publish the protocol for the time being in force in the manner he considers appropriate.