Useful Links

General Links

• The Green Book
  The full text of the 2003 HM Treasury Green Book Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government is available at this site, together with supplementary guidance on a variety of relevant issues.
• DFP Accountability & Financial Management Division
  Contains all current letters of guidance and other resources including Managing Public Money Northern Ireland (MPMNI).
• HM Treasury
  Provides a wide range of information and resources on current economic and financial issues including pages on the UK Economy, the Budget, the Spending Review, Economic Data & Tools, Public Spending & Reporting and many other related subjects.
• The Northern Ireland Executive
  Explains the role of the Executive and its work including the Programme for Government.
• A to Z list of Northern Ireland's main central and local government bodies
  Contains links to Northern Ireland's central government departments, District Councils and other public bodies.

Policy Appraisal and Evaluation

• The Policy Link
  OFMDFM website which provides bulletins on current policy issues and a variety of relevant resources and links.
• The Policy Toolkit
  Developed by OFMDFM, this toolkit provides a practical overview of the policy development process. It consists of a number of workbooks covering key steps in the process, such as justification and set-up; developing and analysing the evidence base; identifying and appraising policy options; impact assessment; and the consultation process.
• A Practical Guide to Policy Making in Northern Ireland
  Published by OFMDFM in 2003, this guide sets out key principles for good policy-making with practical advice on applying them in Northern Ireland
• The Cabinet Office
  Provides information on a wide range of current UK policy issues including the Big Society, National Security, Constitutional Reform and Government Efficiency among others.
• The Magenta Book
  Government Social Research Unit guide to the evaluation methods used by social researchers, economists and statisticians.
• Evaluation in the Northern Ireland Civil Service: A Guide for Departments
  This guide to the evaluation of policies and programmes was published by DFP in 1994. Some of its examples and references are out of date, but its general principles are still sound. It should be read in conjunction with NIGEAE.

Multi-Criteria Analysis and Impact Assessment

• HM Treasury Multi-Criteria Analysis page
  This includes a link to Multi-Criteria Analysis: A Manual (Department for Communities and Local Government, 2009) which provides a good general introduction to MCA techniques.
• Policy Toolkit Workbook 4
  This is part of the OFMDFM Policy Toolkit. It is a practical guide to impact assessment for a wide range of social, economic and environmental impacts. Includes checklists and templates tailored to suit a variety of different impacts.
• Integrated Impact Assessment
  Although superseded by The Policy Toolkit, there still are a number of useful impact assessment links at this page.
• HM Treasury Impact Assessment page
  Includes links to a range of impact assessment guidance produced by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

Risk and Optimism Bias

• HM Treasury Risk page
  This contains general guidance on risk assessment including links to the 'Orange Book' and several other relevant resources.
• HM Treasury Optimism Bias page
  Includes general guidance on treating optimism bias and more specific guidance in relation to transport, housing, regeneration and PFI projects.
• HM Treasury Supplementary Guidance on the Treatment of Optimism Bias
• Cabinet Office Risk Assessment page

PPP/PFI Projects

• Working Together in Financing Our Future
  The local PPP policy framework document (OFMDFM/DFP, 2003)
• PPP projects currently in procurement in Northern Ireland
  As listed on OFMDFM's website.
• HM Treasury PPP guidance
  Treasury's main PPP page, containing links to a wide range of relevance guidance.
• Infrastructure Procurement: Delivering Long Term Value
  March 2008 HMT policy document
• PFI: Strengthening Long-Term Partnerships
  March 2006 HMT policy document.
• HM Treasury Supplementary Guidance on the Taxation of PFI and the Public Sector Comparator

Implementation, Management and Monitoring

• Successful Delivery (NI)
  Launched in June 2009, this site contains detailed guidance and resources for programme and project management (PPM). It covers the full range of PPM issues including, among other things, Managing Successful Programmes, Gateway Reviews, PRINCE2, and Benefits Management.
• Cabinet Office Best Practice and Methodology page
  Contains guidance and resources for a wide range of issues related to programme and project management.

Inflation

• ONS Inflation page
  

  Office for National Statistics page providing the latest figures for CPI and RPI inflation.
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Deflators: A User's Guide
  HM Treasury page containing the latest GDP deflator figures and guidance on how to use them.

Auditing

• The Northern Ireland Audit Office
  The NIAO's objectives are to provide effective support to the Northern Ireland Assembly in its task of holding Departments and their Agencies to account for their use of public money and effective local government audit.
• The National Audit Office
  The NAO audits the accounts of all central government departments and agencies, as well as a wide range of other public bodies, and reports to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which they have used public money.

Other Useful Sources

• Central Procurement Directorate
• Equality Directorate
• European Division
• Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)
• Land and Property Services
• Strategic Investment Board
• Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)