THE HAGUE, 18/05/06 - The cabinet implements policy without knowing whether it is effective and what it costs. The Government Auditors (Algemene Rekenkamer) examined three political objectives of the present government and concluded "there is no adequate information available on whether the policy in these three areas works and how much money has been spent on them."

For the report published yesterday (State of Policy Information 2006), the auditors examined three of 50 political objectives that the present cabinet has set in recent years. These were reducing the number of school dropouts, combating crime and nuisance in public spaces, and fostering spatial planning policy for the benefit of individuals and businesses.

The cabinet wishes to reduce the number of new school dropouts in 2006 to 49,000 and in 2010 to 35,000. The auditors observe "that the Education Ministry has repeatedly implemented the same type of measures in this area over the past ten years, without any indication of whether these worked. This means it is not clear whether money is being spent on successful policy." In addition, the Lower House is often informed too late, and "the minister uses different objectives, definitions and sources of information alongside and mixed up with each other".

The cabinet wants crime to be reduced between 2008 and 2010 by 20 to 25 percent compared with 2002. The auditors "observe that this objective is within reach", but say it is "not clear whether this is the result of the measures taken" in the Security Programme set up for this purpose. As well, the programme's cost is unknown.

The cabinet's spatial planning policy is too generally formulated. "The targets are not specific, not measurable, not linked to a time horizon and the cabinet has formulated no interim targets. This makes it difficult to make an interim or final evaluation of whether this policy is successful, and also therefore to redirect or revise the policy where necessary."

The auditors advise the cabinet to subject the remaining 47 policy priorities of the past few years to examination as well. "The cabinet should agree with the Lower House which policy priorities are most important here". In his response to the report, Finance Minister Zalm has promised to carry out an evaluation of the policy priorities as described.