To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, on 24 February (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 569W), how Defra consultations are analysed; by whom; and at what staffing levels. [HL4056]

Defra analyses responses to consultations in a variety of ways, depending on the policy issue concerned and the nature of information contained in each response.

Analysis of responses is led by the policy team responsible for the consultation and is carried out by Defra officials, sometimes supported by specialist consultants. Staffing levels for the analysis of consultation responses vary and are determined by the volume of responses and the level of technical detail these contain.