(1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer, in consultation with the Parliamentary Committee, must prepare an operational plan for each financial year.
(2) The operational plan for a financial year must set out—
(a) the priorities of the Parliamentary Budget Officer for the financial year; and
(b) an outline of the PBO protocols prepared or to be prepared under section 24.
(3) The operational plan may include any other matters the Parliamentary Budget Officer, in consultation with the Parliamentary Committee, considers appropriate.
(4) The Parliamentary Budget Officer must prepare the operational plan for a financial year—
(a) before the commencement of that financial year; or
(b) if the period for preparing the operational plan is extended under subsection (5), within 3 months of the date that the appointment of the Officer takes effect.
(5) The period for preparing the operational plan for a financial year is extended if—
(a) the appointment (not being a reappointment) of the Parliamentary Budget Officer takes effect within 3 months before the start of the financial year; and
(b) no operational plan for the financial year was prepared by the previous Parliamentary Budget Officer.