Government Consultations

What are government consultations and calls for evidence?

Consultations and calls for evidence are a process through which policymakers seek information and insights from relevant stakeholders. They can be launched by any government department or public body and are used to help the development of public policy. Consultations generally seek inputs on a specific draft policy proposal that has already been developed, while calls for evidence are more open-ended and seek information to inform the general policy direction. Both are an opportunity to share your expertise and help shape the policy landscape.

How do consultations and calls for evidence work?

Government departments and public bodies will generally seek inputs when policy is developed to an extent that public engagement is possible, yet there is still space to change direction. Often, they will seek views between different options to move forward or seek to check whether a proposed course of action will have the intended impact.

To launch a consultation, the department or body will release one or more publications known as Consultation Documents or Green Papers. These will typically include the topic and scope of the consultation, background information on existing policies, existing evidence on the topic, a list of questions and instructions on how to respond. A call for evidence is somewhat earlier in the policymaking process, so is more likely to set out areas where more information is sought rather than seek views on alternative policy options.

Anyone can respond to these calls, however they are generally designed to seek the views of those directly affected by policy developments or those with a particular interest in the field. Once opened, stakeholders will usually have 6-12 weeks to respond to the call before it closes.

Government consultations may receive dozens or hundreds of responses depending on the call. Responses can bring attention to unforeseen consequences associated with policy proposals or may highlight a simpler or more proportionate way that policy objectives can be achieved. They can thus be considered quite significant from the perspective of civil servants.

Once the deadline for submissions has passed, the consultation responses will be analysed question by question. This investigation will seek to understand not only how popular policy proposals are, but also how policy objectives can best be fulfilled. Generally speaking, the department or body will aim to publish a response to the consultation within 12 weeks of the closing date. As a minimum, this response will summarise the consultation responses. It may also set out the department or body’s response to the points make, often including announcing the policy choice(s) that will now be pursued.

Responses to a call for evidence are likely to be more focused on summarising the evidence and much less likely to indicate a definitive policy choice.

 

IOM3 work on government consultations:

To respond to consultations and calls for evidence, IOM3 draws on the expertise of our membership. We will circulate the call to members through our website and newsletters and through the technical communities. The technical community leadership teams will often play a big role in communicating insights and contributions from their industry.

For instance, in 2023 IOM3, with insights from the IOM3 Polymer and Packaging Groups, submitted a response to the government consultation on the adoption of a mass balance approach for the Plastic Packaging Tax. IOM3 has also responded to the government’s net zero review call for evidence, the environmental targets consultation, the industrial strategy green paper, the national security and investment consultation and the advanced materials call for evidence. You can read our consultation responses here.

In addition, IOM3 partners with others to submit joint responses. We often contribute to responses as a member of policy forums , such as the National Engineering Policy Centre’s recent submission on the forthcoming industrial strategy.  We also work through direct partnership with like-minded groups. For instance, we collaborated with the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CWIM) on a response to the environmental principles consultation.

 

Contributing to IOM3 consultation responses:

IOM3 engagement with government consultations is only possible with the contributions of our members. When consultations relevant to materials, minerals and mining are launched, we notify our members on our webpage and through our member newsletters.

We strive to make the process of contributing as accessible as possible. This includes helping our members digest important consultations and running activities to explore consultation themes. For instance, in the lead up to government consultations on extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging and the deposit return schemes, IOM3 collaborated with other professional bodies and organisations in the field to deliver a series of webinars aimed at explaining the proposed reforms. Similarly, IOM3 ran a webinar with officials at the former Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy focused on defining advanced materials in light of the government consultation on the National Security and Investment Bill.

In addition to increasing the accessibility of government consultations, IOM3 supports our communities to effectively promote their knowledge and insights through our submissions. We work with members to identify the issues most important to them and help maximise the impact of their contributions. By building consensus across diverse industries and academia, IOM3 represents a unified and respected voice on all matters relating to materials, minerals and mining. This gives greater weight to our points and recommendations and widens the reach of our member’s expertise.

To get involved in IOM3 policy work, you can see open opportunities on our Policy and Influence webpage or get in touch with the Policy Team at [email protected]