The Cabinet Office has recently published new Consultation Principles, which replace the 2008 Code of Practice on Consultation.
One of the key changes is that the new Principles allow for Departments to follow a range of timescales, rather than defaulting to a 12-week consultation period.
The President wrote to the Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP, Minister for Government Policy, in October 2012. This welcomed the move towards a more flexible approach to consultations but highlighted concerns that a consultation period of less than 12 weeks could hamper the ability of membership organisations to provide an appropriately considered response.