Consultations

The OGA’s general approach to consulting from 1 January 2018

The following is the general approach the OGA will normally take on consulting (including on guidance):
• Where there is a statutory duty or other legal expectation on the OGA to consult, the OGA will hold a formal consultation*.
• Where the OGA is to issue a formal consultation, the OGA may hold an informal consultation/road-testing** before doing so.
• Otherwise, where the OGA intends to either change or clarify its processes through guidance or other means; or input into legislative proposals, the OGA may hold an informal consultation/road-testing** before doing so, depending on the impact of the change or input.

* Formal consultation: with a document published on the OGA’s website. The OGA will aim for a minimum of 4 weeks wherever possible, and longer if appropriate
**Informal consultation/road-testing: to check for unintended consequences, factual accuracies and/or clarity of the guidance or proposal, normally via the MER UK Steering group or a MER UK taskforce.