Legislated policy targets: Commitment device, political gesture or constitutional outrage?

Under the last government there was a focus on outcomes which were reflected in public service agreements agreed between departments and the Treasury underpinned by delivery plans. But in a number of areas the government went further and enshrined those targets in law. In July the Institute for Government held a private roundtable to look at the implications of this practice for policy making.

This briefing paper records the main points of that discussion.