# Policy Brief: [Issue in a few words]

> A policy brief gives a decision maker, usually a minister, senior
> official or board, what they need to decide on one issue: the
> problem, the options, a recommendation, the evidence behind it and the
> risks. It follows common public-sector practice and is written to the
> plain language principles of ISO 24495-1:2023 (relevant, findable,
> understandable, usable). Replace every `[bracketed]` value and every
> row marked *Example*. Keep the main brief to two pages; put detail in
> annexes.

<!--
Guidance: How to use this template
- Start from the decision. Write the "Decision needed" line first; if
  you cannot write it in one sentence, the brief is not ready.
- Lead with the recommendation, then justify it. Decision makers read
  the first half page; many read nothing else.
- Present real options, including doing nothing, with their trade-offs
  stated fairly. A brief with one viable option is advocacy, not advice.
- Every number needs a source and a date. Separate what the evidence
  shows from what you assume.
- The worked example follows a fictional transport ministry in the
  fictional Republic of Veldmark deciding on school street closures.
  Every figure marked *Example* is invented.
- Related documents: Regulatory Impact Assessment
  (`public-sector/regulatory-impact-assessment`), Public Consultation
  Plan (`public-sector/public-consultation-plan`), Memo
  (`business/memo`), Executive Summary (`business/executive-summary`),
  Decision Log (`business/decision-log`), Plain Language Review
  (`writing/plain-language-review`).
-->

## Brief control

<!-- Guidance: Record who the brief is for, the deadline for a decision and who cleared it. A brief that misses the decision date has no value, however good. -->

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Brief ID | [PB-2026-001] |
| To | [Decision maker] |
| From | [Team, author] |
| Cleared by | [@senior-official], [@legal], [@finance] |
| Date | YYYY-MM-DD |
| Decision needed by | YYYY-MM-DD, [reason for the date] |
| Classification | [Official / Official-sensitive] |
| Version | [0.1] |

## 1. Decision needed and recommendation

<!-- Guidance: One sentence for the decision, one for the recommendation, three bullets for why. A reader who stops here should still decide well. -->

**Decision needed:** [What the decision maker is asked to agree, in one
sentence.]

**Recommendation:** [Option n, with the key condition.]

**Why:**

- [Main reason, with a number]
- [Second reason]
- [Main risk and how it is managed]

*Example*: Decision needed: whether to give municipalities a legal
power to close streets outside primary schools to motor traffic at
drop-off and pick-up times. Recommendation: option 2, a permissive
power with national guidance, reviewed after two years. Why: pilots in
14 schools cut traffic outside the gate by 70% at a low cost per
school; municipalities keep local choice; the main risk, displaced
traffic, stayed within agreed limits in 12 of the 14 pilots.

## 2. The problem

<!-- Guidance: Describe who is affected, how much, and what happens if nothing changes. Avoid describing the problem as the absence of your preferred solution. -->

[Two or three short paragraphs: the issue, its scale, the cause and the
trend. Cite each figure.]

*Example*: about 1 in 5 children in Veldmark's primary schools are
driven the last few hundred metres to the gate. Peak-time traffic
outside schools raises collision risk and air pollution where children
gather. Municipalities report that they cannot close streets for short
periods without a full traffic order, which takes months.

## 3. Options

<!-- Guidance: Show three or four options, always including "do nothing". Use the same criteria for every option so the comparison is fair. -->

| Criterion | Option 0: Do nothing | Option 1: Guidance only | Option 2: Permissive power and guidance | Option 3: Duty on all municipalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meets the objective | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Cost to the public sector | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Cost to others | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Time to implement | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Legal or delivery risk | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Public and stakeholder support | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |

*Example ratings*: option 2 meets the objective where municipalities
want it, needs a short amendment to primary legislation and costs about
8k per school in signs and staff time; option 3 reaches all schools but
imposes closures where streets cannot absorb displaced traffic.

## 4. Evidence

<!-- Guidance: List the main sources with dates and say how strong each is. Flag gaps honestly; the decision maker needs to know what is uncertain. -->

| Evidence ID | Source | Date | Finding | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV-01 *(Example)* | Evaluation of 14 pilot school streets | YYYY | Traffic at the gate down 70% on average | Moderate, before-and-after without control group |
| EV-02 *(Example)* | Survey of parents at pilot schools | YYYY | 64% support continuing | Moderate, self-selected sample |
| EV-03 *(Example)* | Traffic counts on surrounding streets | YYYY | Increase within agreed limits at 12 of 14 sites | Good |
| [EV-nn] | [Source] | YYYY | [Finding] | [Strong / Moderate / Weak] |

Evidence gaps: [what is not known and how it will be filled].

## 5. Risks and mitigations

<!-- Guidance: Include delivery, legal, financial, equality and public reaction risks. State the mitigation and who owns it. -->

| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Risk] | [Low / Medium / High] | [Low / Medium / High] | [Action] | [@name] |
| Displaced traffic on nearby streets *(Example)* | Medium | Medium | Guidance requires traffic monitoring and a local review after 6 months | Municipality |
| Access for disabled residents and carers *(Example)* | Medium | High | Exemptions by permit in guidance; equality assessment | Ministry |

## 6. Stakeholders and handling

<!-- Guidance: Say who supports, who opposes and why, and how the decision will be communicated. Include parliamentary, legal and devolved or local government angles where relevant. -->

| Stakeholder | Position | Main concern | Handling |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Group] | [Support / Oppose / Mixed] | [Concern] | [Action] |

## 7. Next steps

<!-- Guidance: List what happens after the decision, with dates, so the decision maker sees what they are committing to. -->

| Step | Owner | Date |
|---|---|---|
| [Consultation on draft guidance] | [@name] | YYYY-MM-DD |
| [Legislative vehicle identified] | [@name] | YYYY-MM-DD |
| [Review point] | [@name] | YYYY-MM-DD |

## 8. Plain language check

<!-- Guidance: Run this check before the brief is cleared. It turns the four principles of ISO 24495-1:2023 into questions an editor can answer with yes or no. -->

| Principle (ISO 24495-1:2023) | Check | Yes / No |
|---|---|---|
| Relevant | The decision maker's question is answered in section 1; nothing is included only because it was available | [ ] |
| Findable | Headings say what follows; the recommendation is on the first page | [ ] |
| Understandable | Short sentences, everyday words, abbreviations defined, numbers with units and dates | [ ] |
| Usable | The decision maker can decide and act without asking for more information | [ ] |

## References

<!-- Guidance: List sources fully enough that a reader can find them, with dates. Keep internal references (earlier briefs, legal advice) separate if the brief may be published. -->

| Reference | Edition or date | Use |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 24495-1:2023, Plain language, Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines | 2023, first edition | The four principles used in section 8, cited by name only |
| [Evidence source] | YYYY | [Section] |

## Standard and licence note

Structure aligned with common public-sector briefing practice, and the
plain language check is aligned with ISO 24495-1:2023, cited by name,
edition and principle names only; no wording from the standard is
reproduced. Official text: ISO, purchase or licensed access:
https://www.iso.org/standard/78907.html, also available from national
standards bodies. Check the current edition before use. The template
text and example are original.

Template licence: MIT.