12-week consultation period should stay as minimum

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today called on the Government to keep the 12-week consultation period as the minimum needed to avoid hasty, ill-thought through decision making.

The union supports a more flexible timescale to allow for a longer upper limit for complex policy making decisions, but said the 12-week period should stay as a minimum.

Karen Jennings, UNISON Assistant General Secretary, said:

“Cutting the 12 week consultation period will allow ill-though through policy making decisions to come onto the statute book, which is then a nightmare to unravel. It is vital that all parties affected by policy changes have sufficient time to consider the implications of changes and 12 weeks should be the minimum.

“It is ironic that the Government failed to consult on this change, opting instead to get feedback on how it should be implemented, not if it should be implemented at all.”