HC Deb 08 December 2003 vol 415 cc342-3W
Brian Cotter

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of regulations introduced by the Department have been subject to a consultation period of less than 12 weeks since the introduction of the Code of Practice on Consultations. [142482]

Yvette Cooper

The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation came into effect on 1 January 2001. In the period 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2002, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (and its predecessor, the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions) published 119 consultations under the Code, of which 18 were less than 12 weeks. Information on which consultations have led to regulation is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.