Samenvatting

Since the beginning of the 21st century, initiatives have been taken to improve the information that the Dutch House of Representatives is given about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of government policy. This information is important for the parliamentary budget law, especially in a period of budgetary tightness: good efficiency and cost-effectiveness information can help politicians to make responsible decisions about policy measures and expenditure. In practice, however, ‘the supply of’, ‘the demand for’ and ‘use of’ this information are disappointing.
This article discusses the results of the latest initiative to improve this: ‘Beleidskeuzes Uitgelegd’ (‘Policy Decisions Explained’). At the request of the House of Representatives, this initiative explains how policy proposals costing more than 20 million euros must include an explanation of the policy objectives, instruments and effectiveness, and the planned monitoring and evaluation. The Ministry of Finance has evaluated the compliance and use of the required information. It appears that both compliance by the ministries and the use of the efficiency information by parliament still leave room for improvement. Yet both ‘Policy Choices Explained’ and other initiatives – such as the recently launched ‘Policy Compass’, the ‘Evaluation Toolbox’ and the wider contextual interest in ‘broad prosperity’ – offer new perspectives.