25 January 2011
5.A public consultation on the legislative proposals ran for more than 13 weeks from 23 July 2009 until 23 October 2009. The consultation document was circulated to organisations in accordance with guidance from the Machinery of Government Division of the office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Equality Scheme of the Department for Employment and Learning.
6.The Department received 13 responses to the consultation, none of which elicited any alternative to, nor any objection against, the proposals.