To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation came into force; whether it applies to all legislation; if he will amend the Code of Practice to ensure a 12-week period of pre-legislative scrutiny is included in all bills; and what plans he has to place the Code of Practice on a statutory footing. [109370]

The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation came into force on 1 January 2001 and applies to all public consultations. It does not apply to parliamentary pre-legislative scrutiny, the arrangements for which are a matter for the two Houses. My Department has no plans to place the Code of Practice on a statutory footing.