Agreeing the consultation
Consultation exercises can receive a lot of attention from the media and from those interested in your policy area. Often there will be new information in consultation documents, matters that affect other policy areas, and indications of the Government's thinking in a number of policy areas. These issues make the process of agreeing matters before publication of vital importance.
During the drafting and planning stages you should take advice from colleagues in your Department – your Department's Consultation Co-ordinator, policy colleagues who have relationships with the same or similar stakeholders, communications experts in your Department and the lawyers in your Department. You might also consider working with colleagues in other Government Departments and agencies, both to benefit from their expertise and experiences and to prepare for Cabinet clearance, where appropriate.
When your Minister and Departmental colleagues are happy to proceed and, where appropriate, colleagues elsewhere in Government are happy, it will sometimes be necessary, to seek collective Ministerial agreement, usually through correspondence. Policies and other proposals will generally need consideration by a Cabinet Committee where:
- the issue is one that raises major policy concerns, or is likely to lead to significant public comment or criticism
- the issue will affect the work of other Departments
- there are issues that are best resolved at Ministerial level through correspondence and discussion.
The Cabinet Office will advise whether this is appropriate and which Cabinet committee your Minister should write to.
When agreement has been granted, you may formally launch your consultation.
Guidance on Cabinet clearance can be found on the Cabinet Office website
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