HC Deb 06 May 2003 vol 404 cc592-5W
Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list written consultation documents which have been published by his Department since 1 January 2001; and which of them had consultation periods of(a) less than three weeks, (b) less than six weeks, (c) less than 12 weeks and (d) 12 weeks or more. [109567]

Mr. Blunkett

The details requested are listed.

The way in which Government Departments conduct national written public consultations is governed by a code of conduct issued by Cabinet Office. The code stipulates that sufficient time should be allowed for considered responses from interested parties. Twelve weeks is the standard minimum period for consultation unless Ministers conclude that exceptional circumstances require a departure. In order to improve the Department's performance against the code, we have put in place new guidance and arrangements in August 2002. There has since been a significant improvement in the Department's performance.

However, there must be a balance between the demands of the public for action and the legitimate requirements to give time for feedback on the specific proposals for action.

Documents with less than a three-week consultation period

There were no consultations where the consultation period ran for less than three weeks.

Documents with less than a six-week consultation period
Title of consultation exercise Launch date Deadline for responses Number of weeks consultation
Animal Rights Extremism: Government Strategy: A Consultation 28 March 2001 27 April 2001 4.5
Consultation of use of X/Gamma Radiation Scanner 17 July 2001 27 August 2001 5.5
Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code A 11 March 2002 19 April 2002 5.5
Criminal Justice White Paper: Proposals on jury exemptions and excusals Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment 25 September 2002 24 October 2002 4
Juxtaposed controls implementation—Dover-Calais 25 March 2003 25 April 2003 4.5

Documents with less than a 12-week consultation period
Title of consultation exercise Launch date Deadline for responses Number of weeks consultation
Animal Procedures—review of the Ethical Review Process 11 January 2001 23 March 2001 10
Race relations (Amendment) Act 2000—New Laws for a Successful Multi-Racial Britain 22 February 2001 15 May 2001 11.5
Guidance for the use of an Intermediary under s.29 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 3 May 2001 29 June 2001 8
Funding Community Groups: a consultation document 3 May 2001 23 July 2001 11.5
Extension of Civil Penalties to Freight Shuttle Wagons 18 July 2001 29 August 2001 6
Consultation Paper on the Review of Part 1 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 30 July 2001 19 October 2001 11.5
Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code F 15 September 2001 31 October 01 6.5
Accessing Communications data—Draft code of practice 13 August 2001 2 November 2001 11.5
Review of Family Visitors Appeals 29 October 2001 14 December 2001 6.5
Fees for the removal and storage of vehicles, under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 16 November 2001 28 December 2001 6
Improving the planning of Young People Substance Misuse Services 1 November 2001 31 December 2001 8.5
White Paper 'Policing a New Century: A Blueprint for reform' 5 December 2001 21 January 2002 6.5
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 December 2001 31 January 2002 6.5
Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002, made under the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 4 January 2002 1 March 2002 8
Secure Borders Safe Haven—Integration with diversity in modern Britain 7 February 2002 21 March 2002 6
Extension of controlled drugs licensing 11 February 2002 1 May 2002 11
Proposed changes to the Misuse of Drugs legislation 4 March 2002 17 May 2002 10.5
Charging for the consideration of Work Permit applications 15 April 2002 5 July 2002 11.5
Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code B—E 12 June 2002 16 August 2002 9
Review of Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme 2002 3 June 2002 23 August 2002 11.5
Breaking the Circle—A report of the review of the rehabilitation of offenders act 17 July 2002 13 September 2002 8
Proceeds of Crime Act Section 377—Code of Practice Investigation Powers 14 October 2002 3 January 2003 11.5
Implementation of juxtaposed controls at Calais 20 November 2002 7 February 2003 11.5
Sexual Offences Bill—sex offenders who travel abroad 28 January 2003 21 March 2003 7.5
Patient Group Directions (PGD)—Proposal to permit the supply of certain controlled drugs by health professionals under the PGD system 7 February 2003 7 April 2003 (extended to 17 April 2003) 9.5
Criminal Records Bureau—reform of the disclosure process 27 February 2003 25 April 2003 8

Documents with more than 12-week consultation period
Title of consultation exercise Launch date Deadline for responses Number of weeks consultation
The Law on Extradition: a review 12 March 2001 8 June 2001 12.5
Review of the Victims Charter 27 February 2001 15 June 2001 15.5
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974: A consultation leaflet 25 April 2001 30 July 2001 13.5
The Halliday Report—Making punishments work 5 July 2001 31 October 2001 16.5
Ratification of the Driving Disqualification Convention 25 September 2001 18 December 2001 12
Review of Crime Reduction Training 4 March 2002 27 May 2002 12
Review of Work Permit Policy on Recruitment of employment agencies and contractors 18 March 2002 14 June 2002 12.5
Merger of CDRPs/DATs 3 May 2002 26 July 2002 12
Working Holidaymaker Scheme: Consultation document 29 May 2002 23 August 2002 12
Justice for All (Home Office, Attorney General and Lord Chancellor) 17 July 2002 9 October 2002 12
Connecting communities, race equality grant programme 31 July 2002 25 October 2002 12
Protocol to the Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters 9 August 2002 1 November 2002 12

Title of consultation exercise Launch date Deadline for responses Number of weeks consultation
Proceeds of Crime Act Section 292—Code of Practice for search powers regarding recovery of criminal proceeds 23 August 2002 15 November 2002 12
Proceeds of Crime Act—Part 7 Section 339 Money Laundering 23 August 2002 15 November 2002 12
Fundamental review of death certification and the Coroner services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 9 August 2002 22 November 2002 15
Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud 3 July 2002 10 January 2003 27
Proposals to make lawful the supply of specific items of drugs paraphernalia to drug users 18 November 2002 14 February 2003 12.5
IAA 1999 provision of facilities at ports and charging for additional services section 25/26 1999 Act 25 November 2002 17 February 2003 12
Business Crime Consultation 2 December 2002 28 February 2003 12.5
Insurance Cover Working Group paper (Voluntary Sector Insurance) 31 January 2003 25 April 2003 12