§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the public consulations undertaken by his Department since 1997, indicating for each consultation(a) if copies were available online, (b) if copies were available in print, (c) the date the time period given for responses opened and (d) the date the time period given for responses closed. [69802]
§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how long the Department allowed for consultation on each consultation document it published in 2001 in(a) electronic and (b) printed form. [70083]
§ Malcolm WicksThe Government's code of practice applies to written consultations which have a national impact on policy and services from January 2001. The Department for Work and Pensions came into being in June 2001. All copies of consultation documents are published online on both the Department for Work and Pensions and UK Online websites. Paper copies are also available.
The Department for Work and Pensions follows the Cabinet Office's guidance on written consultation that sets 12 weeks as the standard minimum period for a consultation. The table lists the consultations the Department has begun, or completed since 8 June 2001. There were two occasions where shorter consultations have been conducted, and the reasons for this are included in the table. All the Department's consultations are published electronically with paper copies available.
603W
Title of consultation Start date End Date Period in weeks Reason for shorter consultation The Minimum Funding Requirement: The next stage of reform. Consultation on the draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Minimum Funding Requirement and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2001 (Occupational Pensions Minimum funding requirements) September2001 September2001 12 Occupational Pension Scheme Winding up Notices and Reports (etc) Regulations 2001 August 2001 October 2001 12 Occupational and Personal Pension schemes (Disclosure of Information) Amendment Regulations 2001 August 2001 November 2001 12 Private Pensions Simplification October January 2002 14 Bulk transfer of accrued pensions rights without member consent December 2001 March 2002 13 Revised code of practice on for gathering of information as required in Social Security Fraud Act 2001 April 2002 April 2002 2 weeks This was a follow-up to a previous exercise to which minor technical changes were introduced. Consultation on Three Recommendations in the Myners' report—"Institutional Investment in the UK—a review." February 2002 May 2002 12 Member nominated trustees and directors February 2002 March 2002 4 weeks The shorter period was needed to fit into a regulatory timetable. Measuring Child Poverty April 2002 July 2002 12 Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA) quinquennial review May 2002 August 2002 12 The future of the Residential Allowance component of Income Support, Minimum Income Guarantee and Jobseeker s Allowance May 2002 August 2002 14 Equality, opportunity, and independence for all [RRAA] May 2002 September 17
§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many consultation documents published in 2001 in(a) electronic and (b) printed form his Department has monitored and evaluated in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultations. [69845]
§ Malcolm WicksIn accordance with the Government's guidance on written consultation the Department for Work and Pensions evaluates all written consultation documents.
§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints his Department has received about its 2001 consultations by(a) electronic and (b) printed means. [69829]
§ Malcolm WicksOf the consultations published by the Department of Work and Pensions since its inception, we have received one complaint on one document. This concerned the clarity of the wording of a specific proposal. Officials ensured that the point was clarified and gave additional time for a response, resolving the issue to the satisfaction of all parties.