Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

The role of evidence in policy formation and implementation

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER’S SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

3 September 2013


Release of report on the role of evidence in policy formation and implementation

Sir Peter Gluckman says New Zealand could be making much better use of science and evidence in informing policy development and implementation and he has suggested some actions that could help to achieve this.

In a report released today entitled The role of evidence in policy formation and implementation, Sir Peter presents the results of a survey of government agencies that he conducted. The survey looked at the knowledge, attitudes and practices toward the use of robust, research-derived evidence in the policy formation and evaluation process. Results showed that the current situation is inconsistent across government; there are some exemplary practices in the use of science for policy development, but also considerable room for improvement.

The report builds on Sir Peter’s previous discussion paper on the subject, Towards better use of evidence in policy formation (2011), and now makes specific recommendations on:

- Developing a standard set of protocols across government for obtaining and applying expert scientific advice;

- Extending the use of Departmental Chief Science Advisors to a number of ministries to strengthen science leadership in government departments and act as liaison between the knowledge producer and knowledge user communities;

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

- Using the community of such advisors to assist central agencies with longer-term planning, risk assessment and evaluation;

- Improving the use of government funds for research to assist policy formation; and

- Ensuring transparency regarding the use of research-informed data with respect to complex and controversial areas of decision-making where the public is directly or indirectly consulted.

“Good policy formation requires navigation through a complex and uncertain knowledge landscape,” says Sir Peter. “Policy makers must know where to source quality data and be able to assess it critically, both for robustness of the science and for applicability to the policy question at hand." All of this requires specialized skills and clear standard protocols for the translation of research-informed evidence into policy,” he says.

Positioning Departmental Science Advisors to help departments to make better use of quality evidence, and developing protocols to ensure that departments do this in a consistent way, are the two affordable actions with considerable potential for transformative impact on the policy environment and fit well with the Government’s efforts toward Better Public Services.

ends

Theroleofevidenceinpolicyformationandimplementationreport.pdf

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.