Examination of Witnesses (Question 40)
PROFESSOR CELIA
DAVIES, DR
ED MAYO
AND DR
JONATHAN TRITTER
1 FEBRUARY 2007
Q40 Jim Dowd: My question strikes
at the heart of public administration generally. All the witnesses
alluded to this matter in earlier questioning but I want an answer
from only one of them. How does one avoid a position where having
consulted on a particular issue one gets different, sometimes
conflicting, responses and a decision is made which is acceptable
to some but clearly not to others? Those who agree think that
it has been open and transparent and is a model of its kind; the
rest think that it is cosmetic.
Dr Mayo: I would say that it is
about building confidence in the quality of the process. For example,
some years ago the National Consumer Council developed guidelines
that became the guidelines for central government in terms of
national consultations. I am sure that further improvements are
required in exactly that field, but if equality of process and
some confidence in it is built up it will alleviate some of what
you describe in terms of the losers crying foul.
Chairman: I thank all of the witnesses
for coming to help us in this evidence session. We hope that our
report will coincide with the emergence of the Bill from committee
at about Easter time. We do not know whether or not we will get
there in view of the timetable, but we will let you know in due
course.
|