§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the women's organisations which have been consulted over proposed legislation by his Department during this session; and if their responses have been published. [86995]
§ Dr. ReidThe Government are committed to making sure that policies are inclusive and take full account of the needs and experience of all those affected by them including the assessment of the potential for differential impact on particular groups in society. In Scotland full use is made of consultation, research projects and disaggregated statistics to identify the impact of policy upon women. The Scottish Office Good Practice Guidance on consultation advises including the Women's National Commission in all consultations. In addition we have set up the Women in Scotland Consultative Forum whose members cover a wide spectrum of women's organisations and which regularly meets officials and Ministers.
We have also developed a database now numbering over 600 organisations with a women's issues remit who are available for consultation. For example our Action Plan on Violence Against Women was sent to all organisations on the database. All responses to Scottish Office consultation papers are made publicly available unless the respondent has indicated otherwise.