HC Deb 23 April 1999 vol 329 cc714-5W
Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will pay the postal costs of voluntary bodies and registered charities requested to respond to Government consultation documents; and if he will make a statement. [80923]

Mr. Mudie

The Department follows the Cabinet Office best practice guidance on consultations. We seek to make it as easy as possible for people to respond and will always consider providing a freepost address for responses to large-scale consultations involving the general public and the voluntary sector. We also make increasing use of dedicated email addresses which offer a very low cost alternative to postal responses.