Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 12 June 2014.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what use his Department has made of the National Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for National Statistics in formulating policy since the introduction of that Index in 2011; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve national wellbeing as defined in that Index since 2010.
The Office for National Statistics is measuring National Wellbeing, not as an index but through a framework of 41 indicators that capture social progress around important aspects of life for individuals, communities and the nation. The statistics are experimental at this stage and as such we should not expect to have examples of major policies that have been heavily influenced by the wellbeing data at this stage. The Department for Communities and Local Government aims to create great places to live and work, and give more power to local people to shape what happens in their area. As such, many of the Department's policies are aligned with the wellbeing agenda. Evidence provided to the Environmental Audit Committee for its inquiry into Wellbeing can be found at:
Furthermore, the Department is contributing £100,000 per year for three years to the “What Works Centre for Wellbeing”. This centre will be dedicated to understanding what local as well as national governments, voluntary and business partners can do to increase wellbeing, and the research programme will include a 'communities' theme.
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