The Scottish Government

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9. Next steps

9.1 Consultation is an essential and important aspect of Scottish Government working methods. Given the wide-ranging areas of work of the Government, there are many varied types of consultation. In general, Government 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.

9.2 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. These should be directed to the relevant public body. Consultation exercises may involve seeking views in a number of different ways, such as public meetings, focus groups or questionnaire exercises.

9.3 Typically, Scottish Government 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 Government website enabling a wider audience to access the paper and submit their responses.

9.4 Responses to this consultation paper should be sent, by 12 August 2009, to:

9.5 Copies of all the responses received to consultation exercises (except those where the individual or organisation requested confidentiality) are placed in the Scottish Government library at Saughton House, Edinburgh (F Spur, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XD, telephone 0131 244 4556).

9.6 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.

9.7 All comments received on these proposals will be carefully considered and will help the Government to prepare the Bill for introduction to the Scottish Parliament, possibly later in the 2009-10 legislative session.

9.8 Details of how the Bill might progress through consultation, the Parliamentary process and into law are set out below.

• The Bill is revised in light of this consultation on the draft Bill.
• A revised Bill together with accompanying papers is provided to the Parliament.
• The Bill is then passed to the chosen lead Committee (likely to be the Environment and Rural Development Committee) for consideration of the general principles of the Bill. The Committee prepares a report for Parliament.
• Parliament then debates the general principles of the Bill in plenary. The Parliament can approve or reject the Bill at this stage.
• If the Bill is approved, it is then referred to the lead Committee for detailed examination and for the consideration of amendments.
• The Bill as amended is then considered in plenary by the Parliament. It may be further amended at that time. The Parliament may approve or reject the Bill.
• If the Bill is approved it then goes to receive Royal Assent and becomes law.

9.9 The Future of Crofting website provides background information at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/crofting .

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