The emerging findings were published of a research project to review guidance and literature on community involvement and pull out implications for the implementation of urban policy.
Source: Community Involvement: The Roots of Renaissance?, Urban Research Summary 5, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (fax: 020 7944 4527)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Nov
A new book showed how public health research contributes to the making of health policy and to an improvement in health at a population level, and compares public health research in the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Source: Walter Holland, Foundations for Health Improvement, Nuffield Trust (020 631 8450)
Links: Press release (Word file)
Date: 2002-Oct
A report examined ways in which regional knowledge can contribute to policy making, and how the Government Offices for the Regions can connect policy making with delivery.
Source: Incorporating Regional Perspectives into Policy-making, Cabinet Office (020 7261 8527) and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
The Cabinet Office published a practical guide for planning public involvement in policy making, including good practice principles and the selection of public involvement techniques.
Source: Viewfinder: A policy maker's guide to public involvement, Cabinet Office (020 7261 8527)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A report evaluated research on how best to involve young people in making public decisions, and what impacts can be achieved. It said that the quality of existing evaluations varies, and that most studies are localised and may only apply to a specific group of young people and adults, within specific contexts.
Source: Perpetua Kirby with Sara Bryson, Measuring the Magic?: Evaluating and researching young people s participation in public decision making, Carnegie Young People Initiative/Carnegie United Kingdom Trust (020 7401 5460)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
Research drew on five case studies to illustrate the practice and benefits of applying programme and project management discipline and techniques to policy making.
Source: GHK, Identifying Good Practice in the Use of Programme and Project Management in Policy Making, Cabinet Office (020 7261 8527)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
Research highlighted issues and learning points for the early involvement of front-line staff in policy design to improve implementation and delivery.
Source: Involving the Front-line in Policy Making, Cabinet Office (020 7261 8527)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A report looked at the experiences and perceptions of people involved in Policy Action Teams (set up by the government to tackle the intractable problems faced by people living in deprived neighbourhoods).
Source: The Social Exclusion Unit's Policy Action Team Approach to Policy Development: The Views of Participants, Social Exclusion Unit/Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7276 2055) and Centre for Management and Policy Studies
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/3, Digest 119, paragraph 4.6
Date: 2002-Sep
A briefing note described the role and activities of the government's Strategy Unit (which has replaced the Performance and Innovation Unit).
Source: The Prime Minister s Strategy Unit (SU): Briefing, Strategy Unit/Cabinet Office (020 7276 1881)
Links: Briefing Note (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
A new government Strategy Unit formally began operating on 22 July, as part of the Cabinet Office. It was created by a merger of the Performance and Innovation Unit, the Prime Minister s Forward Strategy Unit, and part of the Policy Studies Directorate of the Centre for Management and Policy Studies.
Source: Press release 22.7.02, Cabinet Office (020 7261 8527)
Links: No link
Date: 2002-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs urged government departments to test how policies are likely to work in practice by consulting customers, and to take better account of the impact of policies on other areas of government.
Source: Ensuring that Policies Deliver Value for Money, Forty-Ninth Report (Session 2001-02), HC 541, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Jul
A study evaluated the consultation process used by a Commission which examined why people experiencing poverty do not influence decision-making and policy. (Half of the Commission members were people with direct experience of poverty.)
Sources: Sarah del Tufo and Lucy Gaster, Evaluation of the Commission on Poverty, Participation and Power, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 7102
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/3, Digest 119, paragraph 1.1
Date: 2002-Jul
A study explored the challenges local authorities face in involving young people in local decision-making.
Source: V. Coombe, Up for it: Getting Young People Involved in Local Government, National Youth Agency (for Joseph Rowntree Foundation), available from York Publishing Services Ltd. (01904 431213)
Links: JRF Findings 632 (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 3.1)
Date: 2002-Jun
Eight government departments published action plans for involving young people in their policy-making.
Source: Press release 12 June 2002, Children and Young People s Unit/Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: CYPU press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 3.1)
Date: 2002-Jun
A book provided a guide to the use of economic evaluation in social welfare policy-making.
Source: Tom Sefton, Sarah Byford, David McDaid, John Hills and Martin Knapp, Making the Most of it: Economic evaluation in the social welfare field, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: Summary
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/3, Digest 119 (paragraph 1.9)
Date: 2002-May
A government website was launched showing the evidence used to support departmental policy choices.
Source: Adding It Up: Evidence for Policy Choice (website), HM Treasury
Links: Website
Date: 2002-May
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was separated from the Cabinet Office, and will have responsibility for some cross-cutting issues including regional government, social exclusion and neighbourhood renewal.
Source: Press release 29.5.02, Cabinet Office (020 7261 8527)
Links: Cabinet Office press release
Date: 2002-May
The government established a 'sounding board' to allow council and housing association tenants to influence housing policy.
Source: Press release 8.5.02, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (020 7944 3000)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-May