16 January 2003
Green Book, Appraisal and evaluation in central government
The Government is committed to continuing improvement in the delivery of public services. A major part of this is ensuring that public funds are spent on activities that provide the greatest benefits to society, and that they are spent in the most efficient way.
The Treasury has, for many years, provided guidance to other public sector bodies on how proposals should be appraised, before significant funds are committed – and how past and present activities should be evaluated. This new edition of the Green Book, Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government, incorporates revised guidance, to encourage a more thorough, long-term and analytically robust approach to appraisal and evaluation. It is relevant to all appraisals and evaluations.
Supplementary guidance, and a comprehensive slide pack is also available, as shown below:
- Supplementary guidance on the transition arrangements that will apply
- Supplementary guidance note on value for money
To order this book, visit the TSO web site.
To view the online version of the Green Book, Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government visit the Green Book microsite.
Comments and questions on the Green Book can be sent to greenbook@hm-treasury.gov.uk
The documents below are available in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF). If you do not have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer you can download the software free of charge from the Adobe website. For alternative ways to read PDF documents and further information on website accessibility visit the HM Treasury accessibility page.
Media links
- PDF file of Chapters 1 to 7 (242KB)
- PDF file of Annexes (229KB)
- PDF file of comprehensive slide pack
(50KB), including speaking notes, on the new Green Book, explaining
the overarching methodology, and the main changes from the 1997 edition - PDF file of links to selected departmental guidance(17KB)
Related links
External links
- Understanding policy options (Home Office website)
Home Office report summarising the evidence base on the use of policy instruments to address market failures in different contexts

