HL Deb 22 January 2004 vol 657 cc146-7WA
Lord Brightman

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the answer by the Lord President on 18 December 2003 (HL Deb, col. 1282), whether the public would be better involved in the legislative process if selected organisations were invited to submit evidence in relation to Bills or draft Bills. [HL603]

Baroness Amos

Select and Joint Committees already can, and do, invite relevant organisations to submit evidence in relation to Bills and draft Bills. The submission of evidence by selected organisations is a key element in pre-legislative scrutiny. It is also quite common for Select Committees, in this and another place, to take evidence on Bills which are before Parliament. The Government are willing to explore further how stakeholder organisations, and the public more widely, might be more closely involved in the legislative process, for example by more effective use of new communications technology.