Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the public consultation exercises on policy matters carried out by her Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; who was consulted and by what means; how responses were analysed; how and in what form the results were transmitted to those responsible for the consultation; how the results of the consultation were published; and what analysis has been carried out of the extent and nature of policy changes resulting from the consultation. [106292]
§ Marjorie MowlamThe information requested is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost. We believe that effective consultation is essential to developing policies and services of high quality. We issued guidance to Departments in 1998 on the subject; we are now evaluating the effect the guidance has had, and will publish our findings.