Consultation standards for Government Departments

On Thursday, the Cabinet Office launched a three-month consultation on the future standards of .....consultation.
I'm not sure whether this will remain of interest just to policy wonks and consultation specialists or whether the media will get hold of the story.
There certainly might be a story, for by the autumn, when the consultation is evaluated and decisions have to be taken, we will be three months or more into a Gordon Brown administration.
And given the his current passion for "listening", the fate of the Consultation Code of Practice will be one of the first real tests of his approach to this. Will the process result in higher standards, or might those who seek a looser, more flexible framework win the day?
What we certainly do not want from this exercise is a licence for politicians to play fast and loose with consultation. If they wish to exert strong leadership and take decisions without consultation, that is fine.
But once they commit to consult, I think they have to do it to the highest standards - and that means a strengthened Code of Practice and someone with the responsibility for ensuring that Departments and Agencies stick to them.
What do you think?