When to consult
You should consider carrying out a formal, written, public consultation exercise on measures that are likely to impact significantly on business, the public sector, charities, the voluntary sector or on a specific sector or sectors of the community.
It is important that consultation exercises take place at an early enough stage in the policy development exercise for there to be scope to influence the policy. Government thinking needs to be developed enough to present sufficient evidence for an informed discussion on the policy (initial evidence based on research and discussions with a handful of stakeholders) but the Government should be in a position where it is still happy to listen and consider taking on board the views expressed during the consultation exercise.
In instances where it is not appropriate to carry out a formal exercise but you want to get input from external stakeholders, there is still much that is useful in the Code of Practice and this guidance.
Clearly, if there is no scope for consultees to influence the policy, a formal consultation exercise should not be launched.
Generally, central Government Departments should not launch consultations during a general election period and should seek advice about consulting during other election periods (e.g. local, devolved administration and European elections). If the topic of the consultation is relevant in the election or risks affecting the election it should generally not be launched. The Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics team can advise.
When considering “when to consult”, remember to read carefully criterion 1 of the Code of Practice on Consultation.
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