Just in case you didn’t already know, in the UK, public bodies can’t just go ahead and make unfair or irrational decisions without possible comeback. Rather, they can be taken to court by the public and their representatives and held to account by the Judiciary. The Gunning Principles are the founding legal principles applicable to public consultation in the UK. They were first laid down in 1985 by Mr Stephen Sedley QCC^^ and have stood the test of time in successive court judgements, making them applicable to all public consultations that take place in the UK.^
^They consist of four principles, which if followed, are designed to make consultation fair and lawful^:
*Gunning 1 – Consultation must be at a time when proposals are still at a formative stage*
*Gunning 2 – Sufficient reasons must be put forward for any proposal to permit “intelligent consideration” and response*
*Gunning 3 – Adequate time is given for consideration and response*
*Gunning 4 – The product of consultation is conscientiously taken into account by the decision maker(s)*
Put simply, these criteria are a “prescription for fairness” and mean that a public body must: consult before they have made up their mind (albeit that an open mind is not an empty mind); provide people with the right kind of information for them to be able to take part in the consultation; give people enough time to participate and respond; and, give consultation responses conscientious consideration.
Shameful. I notice however that the Scotsman is a bit more balanced that the Scottish government. Maybe these omissions could be brought to their attention.
(Recently I've decided to identify as a Scot to go to university for free. I've the tartan hat with ginger hair and everything. If they're so ok with self-ID, they can't turn me down can they?)
Let me start first by saying I am an altruist first Scot second. Altruism is very much connected to Gandhi & MLK as religious principles rarely if ever to right wing evangelicals. Let me say before anybody declares Scotland undemocratic, it was NOT Scottish government that declared the Scots electorate void, was commentators namely English commentators on mumsnet. I don't care if you're brexiteer dismissing elected MPs in undemocratic, I don't care if you're a remainer dismissing referendums is undemocratic, I don't care if you're calling yourself a feminist dismissing elected gov of a country because you want to go on your hols is undemocratic. Its offensive to all the electorate including 51% who are female! The people of Scotland voted in a referendum to have a devolved parliament - that's democracy, they voted in the Scottish government that too is democracy. Like Wales & North of England they never voted in Thatcher once but they got her & that too is democracy. Altruists believe in democracy because altruism is the we not the I. We don't believe in the I whether that I is saying I want to to lie about my sex or I want you to disband democracy for my hols!
Scotland needs to announce it is no longer operating as a democracy.
Langcleg post -interesting information from Mumsnet: What the hell is the point of consultation if you have already made your policy
It's not acceptable for a consultation to be a fait accompli, that is set out in the Gunning Principles:
https://www.bangthetable.com/blog/gunning-principles/
Just in case you didn’t already know, in the UK, public bodies can’t just go ahead and make unfair or irrational decisions without possible comeback. Rather, they can be taken to court by the public and their representatives and held to account by the Judiciary. The Gunning Principles are the founding legal principles applicable to public consultation in the UK. They were first laid down in 1985 by Mr Stephen Sedley QCC^^ and have stood the test of time in successive court judgements, making them applicable to all public consultations that take place in the UK.^
^They consist of four principles, which if followed, are designed to make consultation fair and lawful^:
*Gunning 1 – Consultation must be at a time when proposals are still at a formative stage*
*Gunning 2 – Sufficient reasons must be put forward for any proposal to permit “intelligent consideration” and response*
*Gunning 3 – Adequate time is given for consideration and response*
*Gunning 4 – The product of consultation is conscientiously taken into account by the decision maker(s)*
Put simply, these criteria are a “prescription for fairness” and mean that a public body must: consult before they have made up their mind (albeit that an open mind is not an empty mind); provide people with the right kind of information for them to be able to take part in the consultation; give people enough time to participate and respond; and, give consultation responses conscientious consideration.
Can the Scottish Government refuse a FOI? So many questions. Glad we have Women and Girls in Scotland to pursue this
Too many incorrect responses!
Shameful. I notice however that the Scotsman is a bit more balanced that the Scottish government. Maybe these omissions could be brought to their attention.
(Recently I've decided to identify as a Scot to go to university for free. I've the tartan hat with ginger hair and everything. If they're so ok with self-ID, they can't turn me down can they?)
Sturgeon is up to her neck in gender woo. She probably poops glitter at this point.
Scotland the (stunning and) Brave indeed.
https://www.cfois.scot/ for more info on FOI in Scotland...
Let me start first by saying I am an altruist first Scot second. Altruism is very much connected to Gandhi & MLK as religious principles rarely if ever to right wing evangelicals. Let me say before anybody declares Scotland undemocratic, it was NOT Scottish government that declared the Scots electorate void, was commentators namely English commentators on mumsnet. I don't care if you're brexiteer dismissing elected MPs in undemocratic, I don't care if you're a remainer dismissing referendums is undemocratic, I don't care if you're calling yourself a feminist dismissing elected gov of a country because you want to go on your hols is undemocratic. Its offensive to all the electorate including 51% who are female! The people of Scotland voted in a referendum to have a devolved parliament - that's democracy, they voted in the Scottish government that too is democracy. Like Wales & North of England they never voted in Thatcher once but they got her & that too is democracy. Altruists believe in democracy because altruism is the we not the I. We don't believe in the I whether that I is saying I want to to lie about my sex or I want you to disband democracy for my hols!