Overview of the Political and Policy Context

Overview of the Political and Policy Context RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team How is UK Government policy developed?        Labour Party Policy (manifesto, NPF, Annual Conference) No. 10 Policy Unit Lead Minister and Advisers Parliament (MPs and Select Committees) Think Tanks Sector policy developments (best practice, new drugs/treatments) External drivers (media, ‘events’, EU, Opposition, NGOs) RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 2 UK Parliament & Government Departments House of Commons Prime Minister House of Lords Cabinet Ministers Government Departments DCA DCMS Home Office Cabinet Office ODPM DTI DEFRA HM Treasury MOD DWP FCO Transport Health Wales Office Scotland Office NI Office DfES Dept. of Intern Dev RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 3 Overview of key government departments in England Once Ministers have decided on the direction of travel and set the vision on the future eg of the NHS, it is the role of civil servants to turn this vision into policy. Civil servants rotate in the policy areas that they are responsible for. They do not have clinical expertise for a given area. In England, the key Government departments that the RCSLT has been developing a relationship with include: Department of Health, Department for Education & Skills and the Home Office. RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 4 Policy Areas Department of Health NHS Plan (2000) set the 10year vision  Commissioning a patient-led NHS  Service development and delivery, including NSFs  Workforce planning  Research and Development  Connecting for Health  Department for Education & Skills Taking a greater role with children from birth  Service development and delivery: SEN; Early Years; School-aged; Transition  Workforce for children  Skills for Health  Home Office  Intermediaries project There has been little public affairs/lobbying type activity in England due to a lack of capacity. The pressure has been for AHPs to work together and ministers refuse to meet with individual AHP organisations. Our profile politically is good. RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 5 The Scottish Executive Accountable to people through the Scottish Parliament First Minister Deputy First Minister Scottish Executive Ministers Minister for Communities incl. Equal Opps and Local Authorities Minister for Education and Young People Minister for Lifelong Learning Minister for Health and Community Care Minister for Justice Scottish Executive Departments Development Dept incl. Social Justice and Local Authorities Education Department (SEED) Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (SEELLD) Health Departme nt (SEHD) Justice Departme nt (SEJD) QIS NES CSA RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 6 The Scottish Parliament 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament - MSPs Labour - 50 How they can influence • Committee • Oral Questions Structures Committees Scottish Nationalists Party (SNP) - 25 Lib Dems - 17 Conservative - 17 • Health + Comm. Care • Written Questions • Motions for debate • Members Bills • Education • Life Long Learning • Communities • Justice Cross Party Groups • Children and Young Greens - 7 Scot. Socialist - 6 Independents - 6 • ASD • Disability • CI Working Group Party Spokespeople RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 7 The Political Context – N.I. Assembly Dissolved Assembly Reinstated Direct Government Secretary of State Under Sec. Of State Direct Rule Ministers Members of the Local Assembly Reinstated RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 8 Good Friday Agreement Direct Government Northern Ireland Assembly MLAs Ministers Departments North/South Ministerial Council The North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) was established on 2 December 1999, under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. It brings together Ministers from the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Irish Government, on a regular basis, to develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland on matters of mutual interest within the competence of both administrations. RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 9 Northern Ireland Assembly M.L.As Policy relating to: • culture, arts and leisure • • • • education; enterprise, trade and investment environment finance and personnel agriculture and rural development • • • • health social services and public safety higher and further education, training and employment regional development • social development Political constraints to policy development due to cultural and religious differences RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team North/South Harmonisation structures Working to the Agendas Of Two governments 10 The National Assembly for Wales and Welsh Government  Parliament passed the Government of Wales Act 1998, which established the National Assembly for Wales, and the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999, which enabled the transfer of the devolved powers and responsibilities from the Secretary of State for Wales to the Assembly took place on 1 July1999. Subsequently many acts of Parliament have given new powers to the Assembly. The Assembly decides on its priorities and allocates the funds made available to it from the Treasury. Within its powers, the Assembly develops policy and approves legislation, which reflects the needs of the people of Wales. Politicians, who are accountable, through the ballot box, to voters in Wales, make decisions about these issues.   The National Assembly for Wales consists of 60 AMs as a whole. It has delegated many of its powers to the First Minister; he in turn has delegated to the Cabinet ministers, the Welsh Assembly Government. Wales remains part of the UK and the Secretary of State for Wales and Members of Parliament (MPs) from Welsh constituencies continue to have seats in Westminster. Laws passed by Parliament in Westminster still apply to Wales. RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team  11 National Assembly for Wales 60 AMs First Minister Welsh Assembly Government Minister of Finance Business Minister Minister of Social Justice Minister of Economic Development and Transport Minister of Education and Life long Learning Minister of Health and Social Care Minister of Culture Welsh Languag e and Sport Minister of Planning and Countryside RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 12 RCSLT public affairs objectives should include:        To establish the RCSLT as an influential professional body in the different parliamentary legislatures on communication impairment To promote and defend patients and RCSLT members interests in support of RCSLT policies To influence the views of politicians of all parties, and the political parties, on health/education development related issues To offer politicians assistance in drafting legislation, speeches, motions and questions To advise the Policy and Partnerships Board and the RCSLT Secretariat on opportunities across the UK Legislatures to promote RCSLT policies To continue to strengthen our influence with all civil services and other policy makers. For the future we’ll bring back RCSLT Objectives, a strategy and work programme that reflects the above and where our messages are as clear as possible RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 13