ANNEX A
Our approach to consultation and how to reply
Consultation is an essential and important aspect of Government's working methods. Given the wide-ranging areas of our work, there are many varied types of consultation. However, in general, 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 that will inform and enhance that work.
The Scottish Government encourages consultation that is thorough, inclusive, effective and appropriate to the issue under consideration and the nature of the target audience, ensuring that every effort is made to ensure the representation of all stakeholder groups. Typically, our consultations involve a written paper distributed to organisations and individuals with an interest in the issue, and they are also placed on our website to enable a wider audience to access the paper and submit their responses.
A questionnaire is available to help you prepare your response to this consultation. This repeats the 24 questions posed in this paper. You can respond on line using our consultations web site at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Current. This is where you'll also find the Respondent Information Form that has to be completed by every respondent. From here you can also access further information about our approach to consultation and all previous Scottish Government consultation papers and related publications.
Alternatively, you can respond to this consultation, including a completed copy of your Respondent Information Form in writing to The Affordable Housing Investment Reform Team, Area 1-H South, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ; or by e-mail to AHIRPT@scotland.gsi.gov.uk, or you can send your response to us by fax on (0131) 244 5596.
All respondents should be aware that the Scottish Government 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.
The closing date for all replies to this consultation is Tuesday 17 March 2009. Copies of all the written responses received, except those where the individual or organisation request confidentiality, will be placed on the Scottish Government's web site. We aim to publish an analysis of responses in May 2009. If you wish to make a complaint about our consultation process, please contact the Affordable Housing Investment Reform Team at the address provided above.
Should you require a copy of this document in an alternative format or a translation into a community language, this is available on request. Please call (0131) 244 0078.
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 body.