Publishing and promoting
Your Consultation Co-ordinator will be able to advise you regarding the publication of your consultation document in both online and off-line formats, as well as in other versions. Do not feel obliged to provide glossy, hard copies of the consultation paper – only produce them if they are needed/would be helpful for potential consultees. Be aware also of the potential disadvantages of an online-only consultation given that not everyone has the technology or access, or the skills or confidence, to use online tools.
Your Minister may like to make a statement to Parliament regarding publication and it is common practice to provide copies of the consultation document to Parliament’s libraries. Your parliamentary unit will be able to advise.
It can also be very useful to work closely with communications experts in your Department. You should consider the various means available to increase awareness of your consultation, including local media, trade press, and intermediary organisations such as representative bodies that might be happy to help promote the consultation exercise.
The announcement of a consultation should not be confused with the launch of a consultation. An intention to consult should be carefully worded so as not to lead people to think that the consultation document is already available if this is not the case.
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