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Planning a Consultation

• Better Regulation
• Principles of Good Regulation
• Setting Objectives
• Risks
• Consultations lasting less than 12 weeks
• Preliminary Consultation
• Consulting on European Legislative Measures
• Obtaining Policy Clearance

You should start the consultation process as early as possible. As soon as you realise that you may need to consult on a policy proposal, start planning the time available to you. Remember that, as well as the standard 12 week period for written consultation, you need to factor in enough time for:

• Setting clear objectives for your consultation
• Planning consultation activities and identifying stakeholders
• Carrying out preliminary consultation
• Writing the consultation document
• Conducting informal consultation activities (this may be carried out concurrently with the 12 week written process if necessary)
• Analysing responses to your consultation and incorporating any appropriate changes into the policy proposal
• Getting Cabinet Committee clearance for your consultation document and your final policy proposal
• Giving feedback to your stakeholders, including through a report of the consultation, summarising the responses received

If you are working to transpose an EU Directive, it is even more important that you incorporate these factors into your planning as early as possible, so that the consultation process is not squeezed.

It is easy to under-estimate the time it will take to complete the whole consultation process. Starting early, planning effectively and allowing more time than you think you will need for each part of the process will help to ensure that your consultation is fully compliant with the Code of Practice and that your final policy proposal is well informed and has increased buy-in.

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