Working Paper No. 4. Author: Sally Washington, June 1998.

This paper examines how current machinery of government arrangements influence the quality of policy advice. The paper draws extensively on interviews undertaken as part of the SSC project on Improving the Quality of Policy Advice, analysis undertaken as part of an earlier Machinery of Government project and relevant literature from New Zealand and overseas.

Note: Publication of the Working Papers Series recognises the value of developmental work in generating policy options. The papers in this series were prepared for the purpose of informing policy development. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be taken to be the views of the State Services Commission. The Commission view may differ in substance or extent from that contained in this paper. Published by the State Services Commission, February 2000. ISBN 0-478-08978-3. Crown copyright reserved 2000