Delivering net zero to Scotland - Heat in Buildings Bill: FOI release

Information requested

1. Please tell me if there are any ScotGov rules re incorporating the consultation expiry date near to, adjacent to, or on the front page of the above consultation near its publication date?
2. Where and when was the above consultation published.
3. Was there any media advertising for the consultation & if so how much was spent?
4. Was any formal external advice taken on the format structure & questions of the above consultation prior to publishing?
5. Prior to formal publication which if any external organisations were informed about the consultation contents & publication date? And is so, when?

Response

1. Please tell me if there are any ScotGov rules re incorporating the consultation expiry date near to, adjacent to, or on the front page of the above consultation near its publication date?

There are no specific rules regarding the positioning of the end date of a consultation on the final document. However, the closing date is prominently displayed on the online consultation hub,
Citizens Space. The link for this consultation’s page on Citizens space is here: Proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill: Consultation - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space.

2. Where and when was the above consultation published.

The consultation was published on 28th November 2023 on both the Scottish Government website and on Citizen Space. Links for both are included below Scottish Government website: Delivering net zero for Scotland's buildings - Heat in Buildings Bill: consultation - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) Citizens Space: Proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill: Consultation - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space. 

3. Was there any media advertising for the consultation & if so how much was spent?

There was no direct media advertising for the consultation. However, a campaign of public engagement was commissioned across the following strands. Please note that this does not include all engagement undertaken for the consultation, instead it lists engagement activity with spending commitments.

Citizens Advice Scotland- £18,000 – 5 in-person events
Taylor MacKenzie - £10,800 - 2 online events
Keep Scotland Beautiful - £51,000 – 11 in-person events, + 2 online sessions

4. Was any formal external advice taken on the format structure & questions of the above consultation prior to publishing?

No external advice was taken on the content of the consultation.

5. Prior to formal publication which if any external organisations were informed about the consultation contents & publication date? And is so, when

Please see below table:

CIBSE practitioners, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, Elmhurst Energy, Energy Savings Trust, Energy Technology Partnership, Federation of Small Business, Historic Environment Group, Industrial & Commercial Heating Equipment Association, Industrial & Heating Equipment Association, Law Society of Scotland, NHS Highland Estates, RICS, Scottish Whisky Association, Scottish Energy Officers Network, Scottish Futures Trust, Scottish Property Federation, UK Hospitality, Zero Waste Scotland)
Main Business Organisations (Confederation of British Industry, Scottish Council for Development and Industry, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Retail Consortium, Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses, Scottish Chambers of Commerce)	Meeting	12/10/2023
Scottish Power	Call	27/11/2023
SSE	Call	27/11/2023
SGN	Call	27/11/2023
National Grid ESO	Email	27/11/2023
Vaillant	Call	28/11/2023
Local Electricity Network Community Group (LENCG)	Meeting	28/11/2023
E3G, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, Greenpeace	Email	28/11/2023
Consumer Scotland	Call	27/11/2023
Advice Direct Scotland	Call	27/11/2023
Law Society of Scotland	Email	27/11/2023
Tenements Short Life Working Group	Email	27/11/2023
Scottish Association of Landlords	Email	27/11/2023
Liquid Gas UK	Call	27/11/2023
Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN)	Meeting	15/11/2023
Heat Network Developers, Scottish Renewables	Call	22/11/2023
"Retrofit Roundtable" Event (Chartered Institute of Building; Historic Environment Scotland; Built Environment Forum Scotland; Skills Development Scotland; Construction Industry Training Board; Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; BE-ST; Scottish Futures Trust; Federation of Master Builders; UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence; Scottish and Norther Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation)	Meeting	14/11/2023
Home Energy Scotland (Energy Saving Trust)	Call	15/11/2023
Energy Saving Trust & Ernst and Young	Meeting	Workshops on 13/11/23 & 20/11/23
APS	Call	13/11/2023
Disability Equality Scotland	Call	Unconfirmed
Citizens Advice Scotland	Meeting	Unconfirmed
Community Climate Hubs Network	Meeting	Unconfirmed
Taylor Mackenzie	Call	24/11/23

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