Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the public consultation exercises on policy matters carried out by his 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. [106294]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe Government want to hear what people have to say about suggested new proposals and policies, and this is an important aspect of the modernising government initiative. However, for the Welsh Office up until 30 June 1999, the information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
For the Wales Office from 1 July 1999, a joint consultation with DETR titled "Improving Rights of Way in England and Wales" has been carried out. The actual consultation was carried out by the Assembly, on my behalf, and they wrote to me summarising the responses, and copied them to the relevant Whitehall department, to ensure that the responses were fed into the outcome. The results have not yet been published, and it is too soon for any analysis of the extent and nature of policy changes arising from the consultation to have been conducted.
A further consultation, again in conjunction with DETR, into "High Hedges: the Problems and Possible solutions in England and Wales" has also been carried out in Wales by the Assembly on my behalf. The consultation period has just concluded, and responses are now being analysed.
I have also asked the Assembly to carry out a consultation on "The Physical Punishment of Children". The Assembly will be issuing this consultation shortly. A similar consultation has been issued for England by the Department of Health.