Appendix A: List of Resources
- Published on: 8 April 2025
- Last updated on: 26 May 2025
The following tables contain a series of tools, structures, and processes that are currently available to policy officials that may be of benefit to you in your work as you navigate through the policy development process.
These resources have been grouped under the three pillars of policy development with an accompanying suggestion about where that resource might be useful. It is important to note when reading the below that the pillar the resource is grouped under, and the phase where it might be useful, are only suggestions.
In practice, many of these resources could be grouped under all three pillars and could be of benefit at multiple phases. This fluidity reflects the point emphasised throughout the handbook; the policy development process is an iterative process and can be non-linear.
Data and evidence
| Name | Phase where it might be useful |
| Strategic Foresight Community of Practice | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding | |
| National Risk Assessment | Phase 1 - Demand for Policy |
| Civil Service Research Network | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| IGEES analysis library | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Formal Statistics Liaison Group | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding | |
| Strategic Policy Units | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| CSO Open Data support services | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice | |
| Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding | |
| Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding | |
| Equality Data Hub | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| CSO ‘Pathfinder projects’ based on linked data | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding | |
| Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding | |
| Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice | |
| Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice | |
| Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding | |
| Central Statistics Office (CSO) Datasets | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
Feasibility and implementation
| Name | Phase where it might be useful |
| Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| National Mapping Agreement (NMA) | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Project Managers’ Handbook | Phase 4 - Decide Policy Proposals |
| Public Service Innovation Network | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Design Principles for the Public Service | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Project Managers’ Network | Phase 4 - Decide Policy Proposals |
| The Public Spending Code | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Spending Review Process | Phase 5 - Deliver Policy |
| Phase 5 - Deliver Policy | |
| Small and Medium Enterprise Test (SME Test) | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
Legitimacy
| Name | Phase where it might be useful |
| Phase 1 - Demand for Policy | |
| Phase 1 - Demand for Policy | |
| Guidelines on Public Consultation | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice | |
| Phase 1 - Demand for Policy | |
| Phase 4 - Decide Policy Proposals | |
| Phase 5 - Deliver Policy | |
| Open Government National Action Plan 2023–25 | Phase 1 - Demand for Policy |
| Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) Guidance | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Suicide Prevention Impact Assessment Toolkit | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding | |
| Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding | |
| Phase 5 - Deliver Policy | |
| Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding | |
| Public Participation Networks (PPNs) | Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice |
| Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding | |
| Enterprise Forum | Phase 1 - Demand for Policy |
| Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) | Phase 5 - Deliver Policy |
| Phase 5 - Deliver Policy | |
| Phase 3 - Design with Best Advice | |
| Example of a Consultation on a Policy Scheme | Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding |
| Phase 2 - Deepen Understanding | |
| Cabinet Handbook | Phase 4 - Decide Policy Proposals |