The Green Book: appraisal and evaluation in central government. HM Treasury guidance on how to appraise and evaluate policies, projects and programmes.

The Green Book is guidance issued by HM Treasury on how to appraise policies, programmes and projects. It also provides guidance on the design and use of monitoring and evaluation before, during and after implementation. Appraisal of alternative policy options is an inseparable part of detailed policy development and design.

This guidance concerns the provision of objective advice by public servants to decision makers, which in central government means advice to ministers. In arms-length public organisations the decision makers may be appointed board members, and where local authorities are using the method, elected council members. The guidance is for all public servants concerned with proposals for the use of public resources, not just for analysts. The key specialisms involved in public policy creation and delivery, from policy at a strategic level to analysis, commercial strategy, procurement, finance, and implementation must work together from the outset to deliver best public value. The Treasury’s five case model is the means of developing proposals in a holistic way that optimises the social / public value produced by the use of public resources. Similarly, there is a requirement for all organisations across government to work together, to ensure delivery of joined up public services.

The Green Book is not a mechanical or deterministic decision-making device. It provides approved thinking models and methods to support the provision of advice to clarify the social – or public – welfare costs, benefits, and trade-offs of alternative implementation options for the delivery of policy objectives.

Use of the Green Book should be informed by an understanding of other HM Treasury guidance:

• Managing Public Money – Which provides guidance on the responsible use of public resources

• The Business Case Guidance for Programmes – Which provides detailed guidance on the development and approval of capital spending programmes

• The Business Case Guidance for Projects – Which provides detailed guidance on the development and approval of capital spending projects

• the Aqua Book – Which sets out standards for analytical modelling and assurance

• the Magenta Book – Which provides detailed guidance on evaluation methods

• Supplementary subject guidance explains how the Green Book may be applied when dealing with particular topics, for example greenhouse gas emissions. This should be used where required. A list of topic specific supplementary guidance is given on page 127.

• Supplementary departmental guidance is produced by Departments and arms-length public organisations. It deals with the application of the Green Book in the particular context that is the organisation’s area of responsibility. This supplementary guidance must be consistent with the Green Book, the Business Case guidance and supplementary guidance on specific topics. When the Green Book is updated supplementary guidance must be realigned as required to ensure consistency across government and the wider public sector.

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