Programme for Government: Too Long; Didn’t Read

The Programme for Government (PFG) Framework has been developed using a different approach to that of previous PFGs.  It focuses on major societal outcomes and will be underpinned by Action Plans which are currently being developed. The approach was outlined by Departmental Officials at a conference held in NICVA in April.

The framework is made up of 14 strategic outcomes:

• We prosper through a strong, competitive, regionally balanced economy (p17)
• We live and work sustainably – protecting the environment (p19)
• We have a more equal society (p21)
• We enjoy long, healthy, active lives (p23)
• We are an innovative, creative society, where people can fulfil their potential (p25)
• We have more people working in better jobs (p27)
• We have a safe community where we respect the rule of law, and each other (p29)
• We care for others and we help those in need (p31)
• We are a shared society that respects diversity (p33)
• We are a confident, welcoming, outward-looking society (p35)
• We give our children and young people the best start in life (p44)
• We have high quality public services (p37)
• We have created a place where people want to live and work, to visit and invest (p39)
• We connect people and opportunities through our infrastructure (p42)

The outcomes are supported by 42 indicators which are "clear statements for change" – each indicator has a measure derived from statistics, in some instances new data sets will be developed.

The indicators are: 

1. Reduce crime (p46)

• Prevalence rate – number of victims of any Crime

2. Reduce health inequality (p48)

• Gap between highest and lowest deprivation quintile in healthy life expectancy at birth

3. Increase healthy life expectancy (p50)

• Healthy life expectancy at birth

4. Reduce preventable deaths (p52)

• Preventable mortality

5. Improve the quality of the healthcare experience (p54)

• % of people who are satisfied with health and social care (based on their recent contact)

6. Improve mental health (p55)

• % of population with GHQ12 scores ≥4 (signifying possible mental health problem)

7. Improve health in pregnancy (p57)

• The proportion of babies born at a low birth weight

8. Improve the supply of suitable housing (p58)

• The number of households in housing stress

9. Improve support for adults with care needs (p60)

• The number of adults receiving personal care at home or self-directed support for personal care, as a % of the total number of adults needing care

10. Improve support for looked after children (p61)

• % of care leavers who, aged 19, were in education, training or employment

11. Improve educational outcomes (p63)

• % of school leavers achieving at level 2 or above including English and Maths

12. Reduce educational inequality (p65)

• Gap between % of school leavers and % of FSME school leavers achieving at level 2 or above including English and Maths

13. Improve the quality of education (p67)

• % of schools where provision for learning is good or better

14. Improve the skills profile of the population (p68)

• The proportion of the workforce in employment qualified to level 1 and above, level 2 and above, level 3 and above, and level 4 and above

15. Improve child development (p69)

• % of children who are at the appropriate stage of development in their immediate pre-school year

16. Increase the proportion of people in work (p71)

• Seasonally adjusted employment rate (16-64)

17. Reduce economic inactivity (p72)

• Economic inactivity rate excluding students

18. Increase the proportion of people working in good jobs (p74)

• A Good Jobs Index

19. Reduce poverty (p75)

• % of population living in (absolute) poverty (BHC)

% of population living in (relative) poverty (BHC)

20. Increase the size of the economy (p78)

• Private Sector NICEI (Northern Ireland Composite Economic Index)

21. Increase the competitiveness of the economy (p80)

• External sales

22. Increase innovation in our economy (p82)

• Regional innovation ranking

23. Improve transport connections for people, goods and services (p83)

• Average journey time on key economic corridors

24. Improve internet connectivity (p85)

• Proportion of Northern Ireland premises with access to broadband services in excess of 30 Mbps

25. Increase the use of public transport and active travel (p87)

• % of all journeys which are made by walking/cycling/public transport

26. Increase respect for each other (p89)

• A Respect Index

27. Improve cultural participation (p90)

• % engaging with arts/cultural activities in the past year

28. Increase the confidence and capability of people and communities (p91)

• Self-efficacy

29. Increase environmental sustainability (p92)

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions

30. Improve our attractiveness as a destination (p94)

• Total spend by external visitors  

31. Increase shared space (p96)

• % who think leisure centres, parks, libraries and shopping centres in their areas are ‘shared and open’ to both Protestants and Catholics

32. Increase economic opportunities for our most deprived communities (p98)

• The employment rate of 16-64 year olds by deprivation quintile

33. Reduce underemployment (p99)

• % of people working part time who would like to work more hours

34. Improve regional balance of economic prosperity through increased employment (p100)

• Employment rate by geographic area (areas to be defined)

35. Increase reconciliation (p102)

• % of the population who believe their cultural identity is respected by society

36. Increase household waste recycling (p104)

• % of household waste that is recycled or composted

37. Improve air quality (p105)

• Nitrogen dioxide concentration

38. Increase the effectiveness of the justice system (p107)

• Proportion of criminal cases processed within guideline time limits

39. Reduce reoffending (p109)

• Reoffending rate

40. Improve our international reputation (p110)

• National Brand Index

41. Increase the proportion of graduates moving into employment, or on to further study (p112)

• Proportion of local graduates from local institutions in work or further study six months after graduation

42. Increase quality of life for people with disabilities (p113)

• Average life satisfaction score of people with disabilities

The voluntary and community sector is explicitly listed as an organisation which the Executive wants to work with to “maximise what we can achieve collectively.”

Our sector is referred to in the commentary on seven of the 14 outcomes:

• We have a more equal society
• We enjoy, long, healthy, active lives
• We have a safe community where we respect the law and each other

• We care for others and we help those in need
• We are a shared society that respects diversity
• We are confident, welcoming, outward-looking society
• We have high quality public services  

There is, obviously, also a role for the voluntary and community sector in influencing the content of this framework and the action plans which will be developed over the summer.

Consultation on the framework runs until 22nd of July 2016 – the action plans will be developed and informed by this initial consultation.

Action plans will also be consulted upon, alongside the budget by the end of 2016.

The framework is available in full here.

NICVA will be hosting a consultation event on the framework with officials from The Executive Office on 13th of June, you can read more about this event and register here.