§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she has taken to promote policy appraisal for equal treatment; if she will promulgate a checklist for strategic policy making; and if she will place a copy of the checklist in the Library. [95371]
§ Marjorie MowlamGuidelines on policy appraisal for equal treatment were published jointly by the Home Office, Department for Education and Employment and the Women's Unit in the Cabinet Office in November 1998. These were circulated to all departments to ensure that the effects of any policy changes on all groups within society are considered at the earliest stage of policy development.
On 2 August 1999 the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit launched an IT-based checklist for policy makers on the Cabinet Office website. Among other things the checklist provides up to date information and advice in taking account of a range of issues including gender, ethnicity, disability and age in advice to Ministers. It also provides advice and contact points on statutory requirements, for example the Human Rights Act, good practice in consultation and other impact assessment tools like regulatory impact assessment. Policy makers are advised to use the checklist at the beginning of the policy formulation process, as part of their on-going work and in evaluation.
The checklist is IT-based to help ensure that it is kept up to date and is accessible to a wide range of users. It is available on the Cabinet Office website at http.//www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/1999/checklist/intro.htm
A copy of the checklist is available from the Libraries of the House.