diff --git a/waltz-data/src/main/java/org/finos/waltz/data/rating_scheme/RatingSchemeDAO.java b/waltz-data/src/main/java/org/finos/waltz/data/rating_scheme/RatingSchemeDAO.java
index 191d1e1ba1..29745027ea 100644
--- a/waltz-data/src/main/java/org/finos/waltz/data/rating_scheme/RatingSchemeDAO.java
+++ b/waltz-data/src/main/java/org/finos/waltz/data/rating_scheme/RatingSchemeDAO.java
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ public class RatingSchemeDAO {
 
         RatingSchemeItemRecord r = record.into(RATING_SCHEME_ITEM);
 
-        ImmutableRatingSchemeItem.Builder builder = ImmutableRatingSchemeItem.builder()
+        ImmutableRatingSchemeItem.Builder builder = ImmutableRatingSchemeItem
+                .builder()
                 .id(r.getId())
                 .ratingSchemeId(r.getSchemeId())
                 .name(r.getName())
@@ -81,7 +82,8 @@ public class RatingSchemeDAO {
                 .position(r.getPosition())
                 .description(r.getDescription())
                 .externalId(ofNullable(r.getExternalId()))
-                .ratingGroup(r.getRatingGroup());
+                .ratingGroup(r.getRatingGroup())
+                .requiresComment(r.getRequiresComment());
 
 
         if (record.field(IS_RESTRICTED_FIELD) != null){
@@ -245,6 +247,7 @@ public Long saveRatingItem(long schemeId,
         r.setPosition(item.position());
         r.setUserSelectable(item.userSelectable());
         r.setRatingGroup(item.ratingGroup());
+        r.setRequiresComment(item.requiresComment());
 
         item.externalId().ifPresent(r::setExternalId);
 
diff --git a/waltz-model/src/main/java/org/finos/waltz/model/rating/RatingSchemeItem.java b/waltz-model/src/main/java/org/finos/waltz/model/rating/RatingSchemeItem.java
index 197d1ec43d..8cfcb81aa6 100644
--- a/waltz-model/src/main/java/org/finos/waltz/model/rating/RatingSchemeItem.java
+++ b/waltz-model/src/main/java/org/finos/waltz/model/rating/RatingSchemeItem.java
@@ -51,4 +51,9 @@ public boolean userSelectable() {
     @Nullable
     public abstract String ratingGroup();
 
+    @Value.Default
+    public boolean requiresComment() {
+        return false;
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/waltz-ng/client/assessments/components/rating-editor/RatingAddView.svelte b/waltz-ng/client/assessments/components/rating-editor/RatingAddView.svelte
index 58260b5a29..e1ec5c6495 100644
--- a/waltz-ng/client/assessments/components/rating-editor/RatingAddView.svelte
+++ b/waltz-ng/client/assessments/components/rating-editor/RatingAddView.svelte
@@ -1,15 +1,11 @@
 <script>
-
-
     import _ from "lodash";
     import {assessmentRatings, primaryEntityReference, selectedAssessment} from "./rating-store";
     import {assessmentRatingStore} from "../../../svelte-stores/assessment-rating-store";
     import Icon from "../../../common/svelte/Icon.svelte";
     import toasts from "../../../svelte-stores/toast-store";
     import {displayError} from "../../../common/error-utils";
-
-    let dropdownConfig;
-    let assessmentRatingCall;
+    import Markdown from "../../../common/svelte/Markdown.svelte";
 
     export let onCancel;
 
@@ -18,6 +14,9 @@
         comment: null
     };
 
+    let dropdownConfig;
+    let assessmentRatingCall;
+
     function onSave() {
         const seletedDefnId = $selectedAssessment.definition.id;
         assessmentRatingStore
@@ -32,7 +31,6 @@
     }
 
     $: {
-
         const existingRatings = _.map($selectedAssessment.ratings, d => d.rating.ratingId);
 
         const grouped = _
@@ -50,9 +48,11 @@
         dropdownConfig = grouped[null]
             ? {style: "simple", options: grouped[null]}
             : {style: "grouped", groups: _.map(grouped, (v, k) => ({groupName: k, options: v}))};
-
     }
 
+    $: selectedRating = _.find(
+        $selectedAssessment.dropdownEntries,
+        d => d.id === newRating.ratingId);
 </script>
 
 <h4>Add New Rating:</h4>
@@ -83,27 +83,48 @@
                 {/each}
             {/if}
         </select>
+        <div class="help-block">
+            {#if selectedRating}
+                <Markdown text={selectedRating.description}/>
+            {:else}
+                Please select a rating
+            {/if}
+        </div>
     </div>
 
     <div class="form-group">
         <label for="comment">
-            Comment
+            Comment {#if selectedRating?.requiresComment}<span class="required-indicator">*</span>{/if}
         </label>
         <textarea id="comment"
                   class="form-control"
                   rows="6"
+                  required={selectedRating?.requiresComment}
                   placeholder="This comment supports markdown"
                   bind:value={newRating.comment}></textarea>
+        {#if selectedRating?.requiresComment}
+            <div class="help-block">
+                A comment is mandatory for this rating
+            </div>
+        {/if}
     </div>
+
+    <button type="submit"
+            class="btn btn-skinny">
+        <Icon name="floppy-o"/>
+        Save
+    </button>
+
+    <button class="btn btn-skinny"
+            on:click={onCancel}>
+        <Icon name="times"/>
+        Cancel
+    </button>
+
 </form>
 
-<button class="btn btn-skinny"
-        on:click={onSave}>
-    <Icon name="floppy-o"/>
-    Save
-</button>
-<button class="btn btn-skinny"
-        on:click={onCancel}>
-    <Icon name="times"/>
-    Cancel
-</button>
+<style>
+    .required-indicator {
+        color: red;
+    }
+</style>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/waltz-ng/client/assessments/components/rating-editor/RatingDetailView.svelte b/waltz-ng/client/assessments/components/rating-editor/RatingDetailView.svelte
index 8c2361b705..cf14687c93 100644
--- a/waltz-ng/client/assessments/components/rating-editor/RatingDetailView.svelte
+++ b/waltz-ng/client/assessments/components/rating-editor/RatingDetailView.svelte
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
     import {displayError} from "../../../common/error-utils";
     import {cardinality} from "../../../common/services/enums/cardinality";
     import EditableRatingValue from "./EditableRatingValue.svelte";
+    import Markdown from "../../../common/svelte/Markdown.svelte";
 
     export let onCancel;
     export let onRemove;
@@ -134,6 +135,9 @@
                                  showGroup={true}
                                  disablementReason={ratingDisablementReason}
                                  onSave={saveRating}/>
+            <div class="help-block">
+                <Markdown text={$selectedRating.ratingItem.description}/>
+            </div>
         </div>
     </div>
 
@@ -142,6 +146,7 @@
         <div id="comment">
             <TextEditableField text={rating.comment}
                                label="Comment"
+                               mandatory={$selectedRating.ratingItem.requiresComment}
                                editable={canEdit}
                                onSave={saveComment}/>
         </div>
diff --git a/waltz-ng/client/common/svelte/TextEditableField.svelte b/waltz-ng/client/common/svelte/TextEditableField.svelte
index 9872e5bd43..61c4f0f93f 100644
--- a/waltz-ng/client/common/svelte/TextEditableField.svelte
+++ b/waltz-ng/client/common/svelte/TextEditableField.svelte
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     export let onSave = (text) => console.log("Text to save", {text});
     export let editable;
     export let label;
+    export let mandatory = false;
 
     let workingText;
     let savePromise
@@ -37,52 +38,64 @@
         savePromise
             .then(() => activeMode = Modes.VIEW);
     }
-
 </script>
 
-
-{#if activeMode === Modes.VIEW}
-    {#if !_.isEmpty(label)}
-        <label for="text">
-            {label}
-        </label>
-        {#if editable}
-            <button class="btn btn-skinny"
+<span class="waltz-visibility-parent">
+    {#if activeMode === Modes.VIEW}
+        {#if !_.isEmpty(label)}
+            <label for="text">
+                {label} {#if mandatory}*{/if}
+            </label>
+            {#if editable}
+                <button class="btn btn-skinny waltz-visibility-child-50"
+                        on:click={editText}>
+                    <Icon name="pencil"/>
+                    Edit
+                </button>
+            {/if}
+        {/if}
+        <div id="text">
+            <Markdown {text}/>
+        </div>
+        {#if mandatory}
+            <div class="help-block">
+                A comment is mandatory
+            </div>
+        {/if}
+        {#if _.isEmpty(label) && editable}
+            <button class="btn btn-skinny waltz-visibility-child-50"
                     on:click={editText}>
                 <Icon name="pencil"/>
                 Edit
             </button>
         {/if}
-    {/if}
-    <div id="text">
-        <Markdown {text}/>
-    </div>
-    {#if _.isEmpty(label) && editable}
+    {:else if activeMode === Modes.EDIT}
+        {#if !_.isEmpty(label)}
+            <label for="text">
+                {label} {#if mandatory}*{/if}
+            </label>
+        {/if}
+        <textarea class="form-control"
+                  rows="5"
+                  required={mandatory}
+                  bind:value={workingText}></textarea>
+        {#if mandatory}
+            <div class="help-block">
+                A comment is mandatory
+            </div>
+        {/if}
         <button class="btn btn-skinny"
-                on:click={editText}>
-            <Icon name="pencil"/>
-            Edit
+                disabled={mandatory && _.isEmpty(_.trim(workingText))}
+                on:click={save}>
+            <Icon name="floppy-o"/>
+            Save
         </button>
+        <button class="btn btn-skinny"
+                on:click={() => activeMode = Modes.VIEW}>
+            <Icon name="times"/>
+            Cancel
+        </button>
+    {:else if activeMode === Modes.SAVING}
+        <SavingPlaceholder/>
     {/if}
-{:else if activeMode === Modes.EDIT}
-    {#if !_.isEmpty(label)}
-        <label for="text">
-            {label}
-        </label>
-    {/if}
-    <textarea class="form-control"
-              rows="5"
-              bind:value={workingText}/>
-    <button class="btn btn-skinny"
-            on:click={save}>
-        <Icon name="floppy-o"/>
-        Save
-    </button>
-    <button class="btn btn-skinny"
-            on:click={() => activeMode = Modes.VIEW}>
-        <Icon name="times"/>
-        Cancel
-    </button>
-{:else if activeMode === Modes.SAVING}
-    <SavingPlaceholder/>
-{/if}
\ No newline at end of file
+</span>
diff --git a/waltz-ng/client/system/svelte/ratings-schemes/ItemEditor.svelte b/waltz-ng/client/system/svelte/ratings-schemes/ItemEditor.svelte
index 3341f1b071..6088ff29df 100644
--- a/waltz-ng/client/system/svelte/ratings-schemes/ItemEditor.svelte
+++ b/waltz-ng/client/system/svelte/ratings-schemes/ItemEditor.svelte
@@ -145,6 +145,27 @@
         </div>
 
 
+        <!-- REQUIRES COMMENT -->
+        <label for="requiresComment">
+            Requires Comment ?
+        </label>
+        <input type=checkbox
+               id="requiresComment"
+               bind:checked={workingCopy.requiresComment}>
+        <span class="text-muted">
+            {#if workingCopy.requiresComment}
+                Yes, user must supply a comment when selecting this item
+                <Icon name="lock"/>
+            {:else}
+                No, users may omit providing a comment when selecting this item
+                <Icon name="unlock"/>
+            {/if}
+        </span>
+        <div class="help-block">
+            Determines if the user <i>must</i> supply a comment when selecting this item.
+        </div>
+
+
         <!-- COLOR -->
         <label for="color-picker">Color</label>
         <div id="color-picker">
diff --git a/waltz-ng/client/system/svelte/ratings-schemes/ItemsView.svelte b/waltz-ng/client/system/svelte/ratings-schemes/ItemsView.svelte
index ea0b7240d3..b77b27b178 100644
--- a/waltz-ng/client/system/svelte/ratings-schemes/ItemsView.svelte
+++ b/waltz-ng/client/system/svelte/ratings-schemes/ItemsView.svelte
@@ -97,15 +97,17 @@
 {/if}
 
 {#if activeMode === Modes.LIST}
-    <table class="table table-striped table-hover table-condensed">
+    <table class="table table-striped table-hover table-condensed small">
         <thead>
         <tr>
             <th width="20%"><i>Group</i></th>
             <th width="25%">Rating</th>
             <th width="5%">Code</th>
+            <th width="10%">Req. Comment</th>
+
             <th width="10%">Color</th>
-            <th width="15%">Usages</th>
-            <th width="25%">Operations</th>
+            <th width="10%">Usages</th>
+            <th width="20%">Operations</th>
         </tr>
         </thead>
         <tbody>
@@ -114,6 +116,11 @@
                 <td>{rating.ratingGroup || '-'}</td>
                 <td>{rating.name}</td>
                 <td>{rating.rating}</td>
+                <td>
+                    {#if rating.requiresComment}
+                        <Icon name="check"/>
+                    {/if}
+                </td>
                 <td>
                     <div class="rating-square"
                          style="background-color: {rating.color}">
@@ -142,13 +149,13 @@
             </tr>
         {:else}
             <tr>
-                <td colspan="5">No ratings yet</td>
+                <td colspan="7">No ratings yet</td>
             </tr>
         {/each}
         </tbody>
         <tfoot>
             <tr>
-                <td colspan="5">
+                <td colspan="7">
                     <button class="btn-link"
                             on:click={mkNew}>
                         <Icon name="plus"/>
diff --git a/waltz-schema/src/main/resources/liquibase/db.changelog-1.57.xml b/waltz-schema/src/main/resources/liquibase/db.changelog-1.57.xml
index 230636f9c0..da209f914c 100644
--- a/waltz-schema/src/main/resources/liquibase/db.changelog-1.57.xml
+++ b/waltz-schema/src/main/resources/liquibase/db.changelog-1.57.xml
@@ -69,4 +69,20 @@
                         tableName="software_version" />
     </changeSet>
 
+
+    <changeSet id="20240117-6708-2"
+               author="davidwatkins73">
+        <comment>6708: Allow assessments to require mandatory comments</comment>
+        <addColumn tableName="rating_scheme_item">
+            <column name="requires_comment"
+                    type="boolean"
+                    defaultValueBoolean="false">
+                <constraints nullable="false"/>
+            </column>
+        </addColumn>
+        <setColumnRemarks tableName="rating_scheme_item"
+                          columnName="requires_comment"
+                          remarks="Indicates if the user must provide a comment when setting this option. Only valid if the assessment/item is not-readonly and is user-selectable"/>
+    </changeSet>
+
 </databaseChangeLog>