§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what subjects and on which dates her Department has consulted organisations representing young people; and if she will list such organisations. [52497]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe information requested is not held centrally and a comprehensive reply can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, it is the practice of this Department to consult organisations, including those representing young people, both in the circulation of formal consultation papers and by way of on-going discussion. For example, in March 2002, the consultation paper 'Promoting Inter-agency Working in the Family Justice system' was sent to the National Council for72W Voluntary Child Care Organisations and the Association of Lawyers for Children, while the Connexions service is consulted regularly on a whole range of operational issues.
In addition, this Department is committed to the new core principles for the involvement of children and young people published by the Minister for Young People in November 2001. The Department will shortly be publishing an actin plan setting out for the first time how it will implement these principles to extend the participation of children and young people in the design, provision and evaluation of policies and services that affect them.