HC Deb 15 July 2003 vol 409 cc268-71W
John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the consultation documents issued by his Department in each of the last four years; what the cost was of producing each of these; how many documents were issued in each consultation; and how many responses were received in each consultation. [124575]

Fiona Mactaggart

The Government recommend that policy development should be done in close consultation with stakeholders. Formal consultation documents are only one part of this process, which includes:

  • Stakeholder meetings
  • Listening events/public meetings
  • Web forums
  • Public surveys
  • Focus groups
  • Regional events
  • Free-phone and freepost surveys and events
  • Targeted leaflet campaigns
  • Road shows and exhibitions.

It is standard practice for departments to evaluate the policy development process, including the use of consultation.

Details of the number of consultation documents issued in each consultation exercise are not collated on a central basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Also provision of full details as requested for the years 1999–2000 would also incur disproportionate cost. However to give the fullest reply I can advise that the Home Office launched 19 consultations in 1999 and 28 consultation papers in 2000. Details of Home Office consultation publications can be found at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/inside/consults/index, html

The following table lists the consultations launched in 2001, 2002 plus those that were launched this year and for which the consultation period has concluded. I include figures for cost where available; methodology in calculating costs may vary.

Consultation papers launched in 2001
Title Number of responses A vailable figures for cost (£)
Improving the planning of Young People Substance Misuse Services 440 n/a
Fees for the removal and storage of vehicles, under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 21 n/a
White Paper 'Policing a New Century: A Blueprint for reform 1,200 n/a
Death in Police Custody—Consultation paper on revising the definition of categories of deaths of members of the public during or following police contact 14 930

Consultation papers launched in 2002
Title Number of responses Available figures for cost
Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002, made under the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 26 n/a
Secure Borders Safe Haven—Integration with diversity in modern Britain 330 n/a
Extension of controlled drugs licensing 49 n/a
Proposed changes to the Misuse of Drugs legislation 11 n/a
Review of Crime Reduction Training n/a n/a
Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code A 45 n/a
Review of Work Permit Policy on Recruitment of employment agencies and contractors 54 n/a
Charging for the consideration of Work Permit applications 135 n/a
Merger of CDRPs/DATs 234 n/a
Working Holidaymaker Scheme: Consultation document 84 5,219 inc 4,750 staff costs
Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code B 28 No separate costs available as part of wider review
Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code C 16 No separate costs available as part of wider review
Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code D 105 No separate costs available as part of wider review
Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code E 16 No separate costs available as part of wider review
Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud 5,031 Responses still being analysed. Too early to calculate cost.
Breaking the Circle—A report of the review of the rehabilitation of offenders act 68 50,000
Justice for All (Home Office, Attorney General and Lord Chancellor) 242 n/a
Death in Police Custody—Consultation paper on revising the definition of categories of deaths of members of the public during or following police contact 13 n/a
Protocol to the Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters 3 n/a
Proceeds of Crime Act Section 292—Code of Practice for search powers regarding recovery of criminal proceeds 23 2,652
Proceeds of Crime Act—Part 7 (Money laundering) Section 339 Form and manner of disclosures. 54 2,964
Fundamental review of death certification and the Coroner services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 500 + 1.1 million for the review as a Whole. The writing issuing and consideration of the responses to the consultation document were not available separately.
Criminal Justice White Paper: Proposals on jury exemptions and excusals PRIA 56 4,300
Proceeds of Crime Act section 377—Investigation powers 24 3,325
Proposals to make lawful the supply of specific items of drugs paraphernalia to drug users 75 n/a
Implementation of juxtaposed controls at Calais 13 n/a
IAA 1999 provision of facilities at ports and charging for additional services section 25/26 1999 Act 8 2,000

Consultation papers launched in 2003 and closed to data.
Title Number of responses Available figures for cost
Sexual Offences Bill—sex offenders who travel abroad 26 n/a
Insurance Cover Working Group paper (Voluntary Sector Insurance) n/a n/a
Patient Group Directions (PGD)—Proposal to permit the supply of certain controlled drugs by health professionals under the PGD system. 80 n/a
Criminal Records Bureau—reform of the disclosure process 570 11,400
Access to communications data—respecting privacy and protecting the public from crime 187 66,167
Retention of communications data—Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 54 25,251
Bind overs—a power for the 21st Century 16 3,500 approx
Nationality, Immigration and Asylum (NIA) Act 2002. Sections 134–139: Implementation of new information powers. 16 n/a
Juxtaposed controls implementation—Dover-Calais 10 765

Consultation papers launched in 2003 and closed to date.
Title Number of responses Available figures for cost
Criminal Records Bureau—Basic Disclosure: Routing applications for basic disclosure through registered bodies 358 Still being analysed. Costs not known yet
New sentencing guidance for the court of appeal on the crime of Robbery 30—including one anticipated later response n/a
Review of the seasonal agricultural workers scheme n/a n/a