§ Mr. HawkinsTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Marsden) of 24 June 1999,Official Report, column 456, on consultation papers, if the statement in the Cabinet Office guide on conducting written consultation exercises, concerning using the Internet to publish and receive replies, indicates that the Government's policy is that responses to consultations should be published. [92772]
§ Mr. KilfoyleThe Cabinet Office guide on conducting written consultation exercises states that, where circumstances permit, a summary of views and information collected from the consultation exercise should be produced and made available. But where respondents request confidentiality for their comments, their wishes should be respected, in accordance with the existing Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Following the best practice principles contained in the guide is the responsibility of individual Departments, agencies and other relevant bodies.