To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2007, Official Report, column 1877W, on the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, on what basis the decision was taken not to consult police staff associations in advance of the publication of the consultation paper. (138781)

[holding answer 23 May 2007]: The public consultation paper on the review of PACE contains no specific proposals for change. Instead, the consultation exercise aims to encourage stakeholders, practitioners and the public to identify where potential revision of the 1984 Act may increase operational effectiveness. As we are asking police representative associations to initiate proposals for change, no prior formal consultation took place.