Lords to question Oliver Letwin on Government consultation practice
9 December 2014
The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee will take oral evidence from the Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP, in its inquiry into Government consultation practice.
- Revised transcript of oral evidence taken on 9 December 2014
- Parliament TV: Listen to the evidence session on Government consultation practice
- Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee Government consultation practice inquiry
Witness
Tuesday 9 December, Committee Room 3A, Palace of Westminster
At 3.45pm
- Rt Hon. Oliver Letwin MP, Minister for Government Policy in the Cabinet Office
Background
Mr Letwin is Minister for Government Policy in the Cabinet Office. In July 2012 he announced a set of principles for Government consultation. In the course of an inquiry into those principles, the Committee previously took evidence from Mr Letwin in December 2012.
Two years on, the Committee is conducting a fresh inquiry, into how Government Departments have in practice handled consultation in relation to secondary legislation in the wake of the 2012 principles.
In an evidence session in November, the Committee questioned two Ministers in the Department for Education, the Rt Hon. David Laws, MP, and Lord Nash, about that Department's approach. The session focused on key issues, including the time allowed for respondents, the weight given to different responses, and the accuracy and timeliness with which Government publishes the results of consultation.
The Committee will pursue these and other issues in questions to Mr Letwin, and will probe how far Government Departments monitor consultation exercises and seek to improve practice in the light of lessons learnt.