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Institutions
and Processes
The
Policy Process
It
is difficult to provide a clear description of the policy process
or even a detailed definition of public policy as both are diffuse
phenomena. However, the policy process
has been described as 'all aspects of what is involved in providing
policy direction for the work of the public sector.
These include the ideas which inform policy considerations,
the talk and work which goes into providing the formulation of policy
direction, and all the talk and work and collaboration which goes
into translating these directions into practice'.
Focusing
on the current UK
government approaches to policymaking there is a re-emergence of
evidence as a basis for good policymaking. The 1999 Cabinet Office
White Paper Modernising Government sets out a central
role for research evidence in discovering 'what works' and promoting
what is called 'evidence-based' policy. The
real role research plays in formulating policy is however disputed
- with some saying that evidence is used selectively to support
policy directions already decided upon.
The
network of actors who impact on policymaking is wide and the processes
by which this happens are varied making it difficult to map policy
processes clearly.
Official
Policy Processes:
- Green
Papers
These
are documents that set out for discussion proposals that are still
being formed
- White
Papers
These
are documents issued by government as statements of policy.
They often set out proposals for new laws.
The may be debated in Parliament before a Bill is introduced
and White Papers can consult by inviting commentary from the public
at large or from selected groups.
- Consultations
There
has been an increase in the use of consultations to inform policymakers.
Some of this consultation is now a statutory requirement
as part of Best Value Reviews. Some
of the consultation forms part of the move towards 'evidence-based'
policy with it being seen as good practice for consultation exercises
to provide information on proposed policies.
Cynics of consultation exercises have agued that consultations
can operate as a legitimating practice that abdicates political
responsibility and instead uses carefully framed consultation exercises
to provide a mandate for policies.
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