§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the normal period of public consultation about government proposals for changes in the law or in administrative practices and procedures. [HL2857]
257WA
§ The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)The Government do not keep central statistics on the average length of consultation periods across government. The recommended period for central government national public consultations, including about proposals for changes in the law or in administrative practices and procedures, is 12 weeks. The period recommended for consultations is set out in the Code of Practice on Written Consultation published in November 2000. There will be circumstances that unavoidably require a consultation period of more or less than 12 weeks. Among these are timetables set out in statute; those dictated by EU or other international processes; and those tied to the Budget or other annual financial cycles.