How to find open UK government consultations

Updated 19 October 2026. Official sources checked 19 October 2026.

Step by step: the free official route

1. Open the GOV.UK consultations finder

   Go to GOV.UK's policy papers and consultations finder with the document type set to open consultations. On 19 October 2026 it listed 48 open consultations.

2. Filter by topic and keyword

   Narrow the list with the topic and subtopic filters (for example Business and industry then Business regulation) or a keyword such as packaging or apprenticeship. You can also filter by organisation, such as a government department.

3. Switch on email alerts for that search

   Use Get emails on the filtered search to sign up for email alerts, so new consultations matching your filters come to you.

4. Read the closing date and how to respond

   Each consultation page sets out the closing date and how to respond. There is no single fixed length: the government's consultation principles say consultations should last for a proportionate amount of time, judged on the nature and impact of the proposal.

5. Watch for the government response

   The consultation principles say government responses should be published within 12 weeks of the consultation, or an explanation given for why that is not possible. Check back on the consultation page after it closes.

6. Check Parliament's calls for evidence too

   Select committees run their own inquiries with calls for written evidence. Find current ones on the committees website.

What the free tools do, and what they leave to you

The GOV.UK finder and its email alerts are free and cover central government. You still have to set up and maintain the right filters, read each new item to see whether it matters, and track closing dates and responses yourself, alongside Parliament's calls for evidence.