HC Deb 16 January 2002 vol 378 c392W
Dr. Richard Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many public consultations took place relating to the NHS last year; how many of these defined a preferred option; and in how many cases the preferred option was approved following consultation. [20526]

Yvette Cooper

There are many consultations each year in and about the national health service. Not all of these are initiated, or co-ordinated, by the Department. The Department is not necessarily even involved in consultations unless there is a significant challenge. Department of Health Headquarters and NHS regional offices do not routinely keep records about all NHS consultations. The information requested for 2000 could be collected only at disproportionate public cost.