17th report of session 2013-14: the Government’s review of consultation principles

In this report the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee reasserts its concern that the Consultation Principles proposed by the Government may weaken the consultation process by reducing the opportunity for the public to respond to consultations. The Committee stresses that the process of consultation is not an academic issue, but one which has a real impact on the quality of government policy-making and legislation. When the Government first published the Consultation Principles in July 2012, the Committee received over 70 representations from organisations concerned that they would not be able to produce well-argued, evidence-based responses if consultation periods were significantly reduced. In a report in January 2013 (HL Paper 100, session 2012-13, ISBN 9780108500817 & Government response HL Paper 124, session 2012-13, ISBN 9780108550126), it urged the Government to review the Principles in the light of those representations. But the proposals resulting from the review still suggest a Government inclined to prioritise their administrative convenience over the interests of potential respondents. This latest report sets out a number of continuing concerns.