§ The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Andrew Smith)Today I have published the Government response (Cm 6190) to the Work and Pensions Committee First Report of Session 2002–03 (HC 296) inquiry into the Social Security Advisory Committee. I have today also published my response to the report of the review of the Social Security58WS Advisory Committee carried out by Professor Hazel Genn CBE as part of the internal review of SSAC (Cm 6189).
I am grateful to the Select Committee and to Professor Genn for their reports which are both detailed, comprehensive and helpful. It has been very helpful for the Select Committee to carry out its inquiry when it did and to be able to consider the two complementary reports together.