Policy-Making in Sub-National Government

Abstract

Given the complexity of SNG in Britain it is difficult, if not impossible, to come up with a simple, straightforward, description of all the patterns of policy-making at this level. However, by utilising certain theories about policy-making it is possible to make some sense of this subject. In this chapter a discussion of models of policy-making is complemented by examples drawn from SNG to illustrate their adequacy in explaining how policies are actually made at this level. As will be seen there is no one pattern of policymaking activity in SNG as different organisations will fit into different models at different times and in slightly different ways, and various groups of actors will be involved in a range of combinations for each area of policy-making activity. To understand these differences the basic models of policy-making will be used to provide a general framework within which all of them can be located.