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Information about this Consultation Paper and Consultation Process

This consultation seeks the views of all those with an interest in MAs. We have set out, in the Annex, a list of all the organisations we shall send the consultation directly. But all views from whatever source will be considered and evaluated. Please feel free to forward this paper to other people who you believe would have views on improving the Modern Apprenticeship programme, but who are not included in the list in the Annex.

In addition to this written consultation, we shall hold meetings and workshops to allow stakeholders to express their views. If you wish you or your organisation to attend a meeting please contact Joanne McKinnon (contact details are given below).

This consultation, and all other Scottish Executive consultation exercises, can be viewed online on the consultation web pages of the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations. You can view this consultation at a Public Internet Access Point - telephone Freephone 0800 77 1234 to find your nearest Public Internet Access Point.

The Scottish Executive now has an email alert system for consultations ( SEconsult: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/seConsult). This system allows stakeholder individuals and organisations to register and receive a weekly email containing details of all new consultations (including web links). SEconsult complements, but in no way replaces Scottish Executive distribution lists, and is designed to allow stakeholders to keep up to date with all Scottish Executive consultation activity, and therefore be alerted at the earliest opportunity to those of most interest. We would encourage you to register.

We need to know how you wish your response to be handled and, in particular, whether you are happy for your response to be made public. Please also complete and return the Respondent Information Form as this will ensure that we treat your response appropriately. If you ask for your response not to be published we will regard it as confidential, and we will treat it accordingly.

All respondents should be aware that the Scottish Executive is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and would therefore have to consider any request made to it under the Act for information relating to responses made to this consultation exercise.

Next Steps in the Process

Where respondents have given permission for their response to be made public (see the attached Respondent Information Form), these will be made available to the public in the Scottish Executive Library by 21 ^st November 2006 and on the Scottish Executive consultation web pages by the same date. We will check all responses where agreement to publish has been given for any potentially defamatory material before logging them in the library or placing them on the website. You can make arrangements to view responses by contacting the Scottish Executive Library on 0131 244 4565. Responses can be copied and sent to you, but a charge may be made for this service.

Contact

If you have any questions or complaints about this consultation exercise please contact Joanne McKinnon on 0141 242 0119 or contact her using the contact information below. Please also contact Joanne McKinnon using the same contact details if you require this consultation paper in an alternative format, translated into a community language or if you wish to speak further about your views.

How to Make a Response to this Consultation

There is a specific form to complete on-line to assist you in responding to this consultation. The on-line form contains the links to allow you to send the completed form directly.

If you are not able or do not wish to respond on-line, please simply get in touch with Joanne McKinnon (contact details are given below). When sending an e-mail please indicate clearly which questions or parts of the consultation paper to which you are responding. This will aid our analysis of the responses received. In all cases please complete the Respondent Information Form and include this with your response.

Please send your response and the completed Respondent Information Form by letter or e-mail to:

improvingmas@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Fax no: 0141 242 0222

Closing Date for this Consultation

The closing date for this consultation will be 7 ^th November 2006. Please ensure that you submit comments by this date.

What Happens Next?

Following the closing date, all responses will be analysed and considered along with any other available evidence to help Ministers reach a decision. We aim to issue a report on this consultation process by 5 ^th December 2006.

The Place of Consultation in the Scottish Executive's Policy Process

Consultation is an essential and important aspect of Scottish Executive working methods. Given the wide-ranging areas of work of the Scottish Executive, there are many varied types of consultation. However, in general, Scottish Executive consultation exercises aim to provide opportunities for all those who wish to express their opinions on a proposed area of work to do so in ways which will inform and enhance that work.

The Scottish Executive encourages consultation that is thorough, effective and appropriate to the issue under consideration and the nature of the target audience. Consultation exercises take account of a wide range of factors, and no two exercises are likely to be the same.

Typically Scottish Executive consultations involve a written paper inviting answers to specific questions or more general views about the material presented. Written papers are distributed to organisations and individuals with an interest in the issue, and they are also placed on the Scottish Executive web site enabling a wider audience to access the paper and submit their responses - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations. Consultation exercises may also involve seeking views in a number of different ways, such as through public meetings, focus groups or questionnaire exercises. Copies of all the written responses received to a consultation exercise (except those where the individual or organisation requested confidentiality) are placed in the Scottish Executive Library at Saughton House, Edinburgh (K Spur, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD, telephone 0131 244 4565).

All Scottish Executive consultation papers and related publications (e.g. analysis of response reports) can be accessed at: Scottish Executive consultations ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations)

The views and suggestions detailed in consultation responses are analysed and used as part of the decision making process, along with a range of other available information and evidence. Depending on the nature of the consultation exercise the responses received may:

• indicate the need for policy development or review
• inform the development of a particular policy
• help decisions to be made between alternative policy proposals
• be used to finalise legislation before it is implemented

Final decisions on the issues under consideration will also take account of a range of other factors, including other available information and research evidence.

While details of particular circumstances described in a response to a consultation exercise may usefully inform the policy process, consultation exercises cannot address individual concerns and comments, which should be directed to the relevant public body.

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