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Responses to Government consultations are "often non-existent or poor", according to an independent think-tank.
A newly released report from Policy Centre Jersey has said that good policy-making depends on hearing the views of those most affected by a new policy, and those with experience and knowledge of the issue.
But the report, written by the group’s senior adviser Sir Mark Boleat, added that this did not always happen in Jersey.
In the report, Sir Mark said: “The major deficiency is a failure to have meaningful consultation with relevant organisations.
“Closed-question online surveys are the preferred means of responding to consultations. This is not sufficient and often they do not cover key issues and run the risk of questions being biased.”
Pictured: Policy Centre Jersey's senior adviser Sir Mark Boleat.
He added: “Respondents are asked to give little information about themselves, so there is no way of assessing how representative respondents are.”
And he said: “Responses to consultation exercises are often non-existent or poor, in particular by failing to indicate how policy has been influenced.”
Among recommended improvements, Sir Mark said there should be “meaningful engagement with relevant organisations or people” and respondents should be asked to give basic information such as age, ethnic origin, sex, employment status and income so that an it can be determined how representative of the whole population they are.
He added: “Questionnaires should follow a standard format, should ensure that key issues are covered and that questions are not slanted.”
One of the most successful examples of Government consultation was the recent Women's Health and Wellbeing Survey.
When the consultation was launched earlier this year, it gathered 400 responses within its first day. In three months, more than 1,600 islander shared their views.
Pictured: Assistant Health Minister Andy Howell
At the time, Assistant Health Minister Andy Howell said that the number of responses to the Women's Health and Wellbeing Survey made it "clear that women want to have their say about their health and wellbeing needs".
But despite the overwhelming public response, it later emerged that the strategy could not be taken forward due to resource constraints – whilst the public consultation was still ongoing.
Health Minister Tom Binet said: "The decision on the strategy document does not mean that work on women’s health stops or that it not regarded as important.
"Quite the opposite – we are reprioritising and intend to make best use of public funds in the areas where it is most needed."
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