Getting Collective Agreement
to your Proposal
Collective Ministerial agreement, where needed, can be sought
through Ministerial correspondence or through Cabinet Committee
discussion by Ministers, depending on the nature of the proposal.
Policy or other proposals will require 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; and/or
- the
Ministers concerned have failed to resolve a conflict between
departments through correspondence and discussions.
Decisions by correspondence
The majority of committee business can be settled through an exchange
of letters with the Minister who chairs the relevant committee,
copied to the Prime Minister, members of the committee and the
Secretary of the Cabinet. You should keep your letters short, clear
and accurate and include the partial RIA. If the proposal is judged
to be significant you should include a regulatory impact statement in your letter.
The Prime Minister has asked that all letters should start with
a short paragraph in bold which summarises the key issues and recommendations
in the letter with a specific date by which responses are sought.
This date must allow no less than ten clear working days
for comment.
Reasons must be given if less time is allowed.
The Small
Business Service (SBS) must always be included in the circulation
list if the proposals affect small firms.
Further collective Ministerial clearance
You should bear in mind that if the proposal has been changed
substantially following consultation you may need to get further
collective Ministerial clearance (and clearance through the Legislative
Programme Committee (LP Committee) if primary legislation is involved).
Check with your DRIU and with the relevant Cabinet Committee Secretariat
for more advice about whether this is necessary.
Further information
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Alternative
to Regulation