To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on which occasions her Department has convened a citizens' jury or randomly drawn panel of people to aid the Department's policy making since 2000; whether the participants were paid in each case; and if she will make a statement. (243045)

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 22 October 2008, Official Report, column 350W.

My Department recognises the important contribution that the public can make in developing policy and carry out a wide range of activities which allow ministers and officials to listen to and understand the views of the public and stakeholders in developing policy.

With regard to the period before Communities and Local Government was formed in 2006, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Under-Secretary my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar and Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick) to the hon. Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills) on 31 January 2006, Official Report, column 420W and to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Maidenhead on 30 October 2007, Official Report, column 1161W.