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Consultation Documents

Volume 408: debated on Thursday 10 July 2003

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John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the consultation documents issued by his Department in each of the last four years; what the cost was of producing each of these; how many documents were issued in each consultation; and how many responses were received in each consultation. [124572]

Mr. McNulty

The Government recommend that policy development should be done in close consultation with stakeholders. Formal consultation documents are only one part of this process, which includes:

  • stakeholder meetings;
  • listening events/public meetings;
  • web forums;
  • public surveys;
  • focus groups;
  • regional events;
  • free-phone and freepost surveys and events;
  • targeted leaflet campaigns; and
  • road shows and exhibitions.
It is standard practice for Departments to evaluate the policy development process, including the use of consultation. The specific information requested is not collated on a central basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.The Department for Transport was established in May 2002. A full list of consultations on transport issues that have taken place from May 2002 (as DfT) and before (as DTLR) can be found on the Department's website (www.dft.gov.uk).DfT consultation documents are available on the relevant policy website links:

  • aviation (www.aviation.dft.gov.uk/conmdex.htm)
  • local transport (www.local-transport.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)
  • Mobility and Inclusion Unit (www.mobility-unit.dft.gov.uk/ conindex.htm)
  • railways (www.railways.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)
  • roads, Vehicles and road safety (www.roads.dft.gov.uk/ conindex.htm)
  • shipping (www.shipping.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)

DfT consultations are also available through the UK Online website: www.ukonline.gov.uk