Making Policy Better: Good policy, bad politics?

Date: 13.03.2012 12:30 - 13:45

Location: Institute for Government, 2 Carlton Gardens, London SW1Y 5AA

Making Policy Better: Good policy, bad politics? How can we increase the appetite for evaluation, evidence and learning in government?

This is the second in a series of seminars the Institute for Government is organising, in partnership with the National Institute of Economic and Social Research and NESTA, and supported by the Alliance for Useful Evidence.  This follows up our report on Making Policy Better.  In that report we identified political and other factors which reduced demand within government for evidence, evaluation and learning.  In this seminar we discussed how they might be overcome so good policy and good politics go together.

Michael Kell, Chief Economist at the National Audit Office, and previously Chief Economist at the Department of Communities and Local Government, will discuss the emerging findings from the NAO's current study of evaluation by and for government with:

Steve Webb MP, Minister of State for Pensions; former Professor of Social Policy at Bath University and former researcher at the Institute for Fiscal Studies

Sharon White, Director General, Public Spending, HM Treasury, and author of the soon-to-be-published review of the Treasury's management of the response to the financial crisis

Kitty Ussher, research fellow, Smith Institute; former Labour Treasury and DWP Minister and former member of the Public Accounts Committee, former Chief Economist and Director at Demos Think Tank

Chair, Jill Rutter - Programme Director, Institute for Government

The Alliance for Useful Evidence is a global network of organisations and individuals that support 'useful evidence' for policy and practice. Led by NESTA and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Alliance for Useful Evidence will provide a focal point for advancing the evidence agenda, developing a collective voice, whilst aiding collaboration and knowledge sharing, through debate and discussion. Membership is free, to sign up please follow this link.