Understanding the Formulation and Development
of Government Policy in the context of FOI
Prepared for the Information Commissioner’s Office by
The Constitution Unit
Peter Waller, R.M. Morris and Duncan Simpson
LONDON’S GLOBAL UNIVERSITY
2
Table
of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCT
ION
3
CHAPTER 2: EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
5
CHA
PTER 3: WHAT IS POLI
CY?
7
CHAPTER 4: HOW IS PO
LICY MADE?
16
CHAPTER 5: WHO MAKES
POLICY?
34
CHAPTER 6: A REVIEW
OF CURRENT GOOD PRAC
TICE IN POLICY
MAKING
45
CHAPTER 7: THE POTEN
TIAL IMPACT OF FOI O
N POLICY MAKING
56
CHAPTER 8: FOI IMPLE
MENTATION IN FOUR OV
ERSEAS COUNTRIES
66
ANNEX A: AUSTRALIA
71
ANNEX B: CANADA
84
ANNEX C: IRELAND
97
ANNEX D: NEW ZEALAND
108