Parliament, public administration and constitution

Other topics identified by the scan

Several other topics were identified by contributors to the horizon scan. These topics may be explored in future research projects. Relevant parliamentary research briefings are linked:

• Challenges and reforms in public administration. This topic identified several issues including:
  • the importance of effective policymaking in government, including considerations of how policy can better handle complexity and ethical issues such as intergenerational fairness
  • how citizens might be more involved in policymaking through deliberative processes
  • the role of the National Audit Office
  • how reform in the public sector can successfully be delivered
  • the role and effectiveness of consultants in government
  • the role of the private sector in delivering public services
  • the role of the Cabinet Office in delivering effective government
  • the use of AI in public administration
  • civil service capability and impartiality
• Issues in English governance and local government. This topic identified several issues including:
  • English devolution
  • local government accountability, powers and funding
  • the impact of directly-elected mayors on policy and representation
  • the role of referendums in local decision making
  • local government involvement in delivering planning reforms and economic growth
• Governance and constitutional issues in Northern Ireland. This topic identified several issues including:
  • the implications of power-sharing structures on governance
  • relations with the Republic of Ireland
  • devolution to Northern Ireland
• Enhancing standards and accountability in public life. This topic identified several issues including:
  • the framework for standards in public life, including rules governing the conduct of Ministers, MPs and Peers
  • opportunities to enhance the accountability of elected representatives through online tools
• The House of Lords. This topic identified several issues related to reforms to the House of Lords including in relation to its composition, size and methods of appointment.
• Restoration and renewal of the parliamentary estate. This topic identified several issues including accessibility, costs and risks.

Acknowledgements

POST would like to thank consultation respondents and peer reviewers for kindly giving up their time to support this work, including:

• Nicola McEwen,* Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Glasgow
• Alan Renwick,* Professor of Democratic Politics and Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit
• Richard Whitaker,* Professor and Thematic Research Lead for Parliament, Public Administration and the Constitution (January 2023 – September 2024)
• Sarah Kingston, Professor in Criminal Justice and Policing, Associate Dean for Research
• Thomas Elston, Associate Professor of Public Administration
• Cristina Leston-Bandeira, Professor of Politics
• Amy Elkington, Senior Lecturer in Law
• Marc Geddes, Senior Lecturer in Politics
• Dr Vicky Ward, Reader in Management
• Alex Prior, Lecturer in Politics with International Relations
• Joe Tomlinson, Professor of Public Law
• Michael Kenny, Professor of Public Policy
• Robert Geyer, Professor and Head of Department at Lancaster University
• Andrew Blick, Professor of Politics and Contemporary History and Head of Department of Political Economy, King’s College London
• Gavin Phillipson, Professor of Public Law
• Richard Carr, Associate Professor, Public Policy and Strategy, Anglia Ruskin University
• Chris Monaghan, Head of Law, Principal Lecturer in Law
• Richard Whitman, Professor of Politics and International Relations, University of Kent
• Theodore Konstadinides, Professor of Law
• William Daniel, Associate Professor in Comparative Politics, University of Nottingham
• Peter Edge, Professor of Law
• Ben Worthy, Lecturer
• Danny Rye, Associate Professor in Politics, Liverpool Hope University
• Dr Kate Ollerenshaw, Lecturer
• Mark Bennister, Associate Professor of Politics. Director Lincoln Policy Hub
• Stephen Elstub, Professor of Democratic Politics
• Emily Woodruff, Research Impact Coordinator
• Peter Clegg, Professor of Politics
• Tarun Khaitan, Professor (Chair) of Public Law

*denotes people and organisations who acted as external reviewers of the briefing.