Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Government's Code of Practice on consultations, if she will hold discussions with the Chair of the EHRC of the potential merits of extending the EHRC's six-week consultation to 12 weeks.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent of government. It is for the EHRC to ensure that the consultation process is appropriate and meaningfully engages with a variety of stakeholders.

The Government expects them to do this widely and broadly, listening to diverse voices, and has engaged EHRC on this. We will then consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it.