(1) After receiving the annual operational plan, the Minister may request the Board, in writing, to give to the Minister, by a time, and in a manner, specified by the Minister:
(a) an explanation of matters included in the plan and specified in the request; and
(b) an explanation of other matters specified in the request and related to the plan.
(2) The Board:
(a) must comply with the request to give an explanation of the specified matters; and
(b) may give to the Minister an annual operational plan to replace the annual operational plan in relation to which the Minister sought an explanation.
(3) In deciding whether or not to endorse the annual operational plan, the Minister must take into account any inconsistencies between:
(a) the annual operational plan and the corporate plan; and
(b) the annual operational plan and government policies.
If the Minister considers that there are any such inconsistencies, the Minister may give written notice of them to the Board before deciding whether or not to endorse the annual operational plan.
(4) The Minister must give written notice to the Board of his or her decision to endorse, or not to endorse, the annual operational plan.
(5) An annual operational plan comes into force on the day on which the Board receives written notice of the Minister's endorsement.