« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE CONSULTATION 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 area of consultation, and they are also placed on the Scottish Executive web site enabling a wider audience to access the paper and submit their responses [ 1] . Consultation exercises may involve seeking views in a number of ways, such as through public meetings, focus groups or questionnaire exercises. Copies of all the responses received to consultation exercises (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 4552).
All Scottish Executive consultation papers and related publications ( e.g., analysis of response reports) can be accessed at: Scottish Executive consultations [1]. The views and suggestions detailed in consultation responses are analysed and used as part of the decision making process. 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.
The Scottish Executive also has an email alert system for SE consultations ( SEconsult ). This system allows stakeholders, individuals and organisations to register and receive a weekly email containing details of all new SE consultations (including web links). SEconsult complements, but in no way replaces, SE distribution lists. It is designed to allow stakeholders to keep up to date with all SE consultation activity and therefore be alerted at the earliest opportunity to those of most interest. We encourage you to register.
« Previous | Contents | Next »