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Exploring the routes from consultation to (in)forming public policy

Exploring the routes from consultation to (in)forming public policy
Exploring the routes from consultation to (in)forming public policy
The focus of this chapter is the analysis of the routes by which Parliamentary bodies move from consultation to formulating public policy in the controversial field of assisted conception and related technological developments. How do Parliamentary bodies recommend particular policy stances in controversial areas and are these legitimate? Further, given the emphasis on public confidence in the regulatory framework in this field, how and in what ways are the public’s opinions—as expressed in responses to the relevant consultations—taken up and used in the construction of policy?

One of the key questions informing this research is the legitimacy of the routes through the consultation processes; in particular the extent to which public responses inform, or are at least seen to inform, the resulting policy recommendations. For example, are ‘representative’ or ‘majority’ opinions either portrayed as influential, or proved to be in practice when policies are announced? Further, is the status of particular respondents accorded greater significance? These questions are addressed through the analysis of a bounded example of public consultation, the Department of Health Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (HFEA 1990), which resulted in the publication of the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill in May 2007; eventually placed before the House of Lords by Lord Darzai in November 2007 as the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (HFE Bill).
public policy, consultation, regulation, legitimacy, welfare, hybrid embryos
9780199545520
257-285
Oxford University Press
Jones, Caroline
e39a554e-f70d-4f90-b0dc-efa252e7d41e
Freeman, Michael
Jones, Caroline
e39a554e-f70d-4f90-b0dc-efa252e7d41e
Freeman, Michael

Jones, Caroline (2009) Exploring the routes from consultation to (in)forming public policy. Freeman, Michael (ed.) In Current Legal Issues: Law and Bioethics. Oxford University Press. pp. 257-285 .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

The focus of this chapter is the analysis of the routes by which Parliamentary bodies move from consultation to formulating public policy in the controversial field of assisted conception and related technological developments. How do Parliamentary bodies recommend particular policy stances in controversial areas and are these legitimate? Further, given the emphasis on public confidence in the regulatory framework in this field, how and in what ways are the public’s opinions—as expressed in responses to the relevant consultations—taken up and used in the construction of policy?

One of the key questions informing this research is the legitimacy of the routes through the consultation processes; in particular the extent to which public responses inform, or are at least seen to inform, the resulting policy recommendations. For example, are ‘representative’ or ‘majority’ opinions either portrayed as influential, or proved to be in practice when policies are announced? Further, is the status of particular respondents accorded greater significance? These questions are addressed through the analysis of a bounded example of public consultation, the Department of Health Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (HFEA 1990), which resulted in the publication of the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill in May 2007; eventually placed before the House of Lords by Lord Darzai in November 2007 as the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (HFE Bill).

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More information

Published date: June 2009
Venue - Dates: Law and Bioethics Colloquium, London, London, United Kingdom, 2007-07-02 - 2007-07-03
Keywords: public policy, consultation, regulation, legitimacy, welfare, hybrid embryos

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 73563
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/73563
ISBN: 9780199545520
PURE UUID: 1b861ce5-62d9-46c3-99b9-8c769b6592c1

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 10 Mar 2010
Last modified: 05 Mar 2024 18:46

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Contributors

Author: Caroline Jones
Editor: Michael Freeman

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