Overview of the Political and Policy Context RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team

2 How is UK Government policy developed? Labour Party Policy (manifesto, NPF, Annual Conference) No. 10 Policy Unit Lead Minister and Advisers Parliament (MPs and Select Committees) Think Tanks Sector policy developments (best practice, new drugs/treatments) External drivers (media, ‘events’, EU, Opposition, NGOs)

RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 3 UK Parliament & Government Departments House of CommonsHouse of Lords Prime Minister Cabinet Ministers Government Departments DCA DCMS Home Office Cabinet Office ODPMDTIDEFRAHM Treasury MODDWPFCO TransportHealthWales Office Scotland Office NI OfficeDfESDept. of Intern Dev

RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 4 Overview of key government departments in England Once Ministers have decided on the direction of travel and set the vision on the future eg of the NHS, it is the role of civil servants to turn this vision into policy. Civil servants rotate in the policy areas that they are responsible for. They do not have clinical expertise for a given area. In England, the key Government departments that the RCSLT has been developing a relationship with include: Department of Health, Department for Education & Skills and the Home Office.

RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 5 Policy Areas Department of HealthDepartment for Education & Skills Home Office NHS Plan (2000) set the 10- year vision Commissioning a patient-led NHS Service development and delivery, including NSFs Workforce planning Research and Development Connecting for Health Taking a greater role with children from birth Service development and delivery: SEN; Early Years; School-aged; Transition Workforce for children Skills for Health Intermediaries project There has been little public affairs/lobbying type activity in England due to a lack of capacity. The pressure has been for AHPs to work together and ministers refuse to meet with individual AHP organisations. Our profile politically is good.

RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 6 The Scottish Executive Accountable to people through the Scottish Parliament First Minister Deputy First Minister Scottish Executive Ministers Minister for Communities incl. Equal Opps and Local Authorities Minister for Education and Young People Minister for Lifelong Learning Minister for Health and Community Care Minister for Justice Scottish Executive Departments Justice Departme nt (SEJD) Health Departme nt (SEHD) Education Department (SEED) Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (SEELLD) Development Dept incl. Social Justice and Local Authorities NESCSAQIS

RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 7 The Scottish Parliament 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament - MSPs Scottish Nationalists Party (SNP) - 25 Lib Dems - 17 Conservative - 17 Greens - 7 Scot. Socialist - 6 Independents - 6 Labour - 50 How they can influence Committee Oral Questions Written Questions Motions for debate Members Bills Structures Committees Health + Comm. Care Education Life Long Learning Communities Justice Cross Party Groups Children and Young ASD Disability CI Working Group Party Spokespeople

RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 8 The Political Context – N.I. Assembly Dissolved Assembly Reinstated Direct Government Secretary of State Under Sec. Of State Direct Rule Ministers Members of the Local Assembly Reinstated

RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 9 Ministers Departments Good Friday Agreement Direct Government Northern Ireland Assembly MLAs North/South Ministerial Council The North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) was established on 2 December 1999, under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. It brings together Ministers from the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Irish Government, on a regular basis, to develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland on matters of mutual interest within the competence of both administrations.

RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 10 Policy relating to: culture, arts and leisure education; enterprise, trade and investment environment finance and personnel agriculture and rural development health social services and public safety higher and further education, training and employment regional development social development Northern Ireland Assembly M.L.As North/South Harmonisation structures Political constraints to policy development due to cultural and religious differences Working to the Agendas Of Two governments

RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 11 The National Assembly for Wales and Welsh Government Parliament passed the Government of Wales Act 1998, which established the National Assembly for Wales, and the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999, which enabled the transfer of the devolved powers and responsibilities from the Secretary of State for Wales to the Assembly took place on 1 July1999. Subsequently many acts of Parliament have given new powers to the Assembly. The Assembly decides on its priorities and allocates the funds made available to it from the Treasury. Within its powers, the Assembly develops policy and approves legislation, which reflects the needs of the people of Wales. Politicians, who are accountable, through the ballot box, to voters in Wales, make decisions about these issues. The National Assembly for Wales consists of 60 AMs as a whole. It has delegated many of its powers to the First Minister; he in turn has delegated to the Cabinet ministers, the Welsh Assembly Government. Wales remains part of the UK and the Secretary of State for Wales and Members of Parliament (MPs) from Welsh constituencies continue to have seats in Westminster. Laws passed by Parliament in Westminster still apply to Wales.

RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 12 National Assembly for Wales 60 AMs First Minister Welsh Assembly Government Minister of Finance Business Minister Minister of Social Justice Minister of Economic Development and Transport Minister of Education and Life long Learning Minister of Health and Social Care Minister of Culture Welsh Languag e and Sport Minister of Planning and Country- side

RCSLT Policy and Partnerships Team 13 RCSLT public affairs objectives should include:  To establish the RCSLT as an influential professional body in the different parliamentary legislatures on communication impairment  To promote and defend patients and RCSLT members interests in support of RCSLT policies  To influence the views of politicians of all parties, and the political parties, on health/education development related issues  To offer politicians assistance in drafting legislation, speeches, motions and questions  To advise the Policy and Partnerships Board and the RCSLT Secretariat on opportunities across the UK Legislatures to promote RCSLT policies  To continue to strengthen our influence with all civil services and other policy makers.  For the future we’ll bring back RCSLT Objectives, a strategy and work programme that reflects the above and where our messages are as clear as possible