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Information in Policybrief is organised into a 3 level classification system. There is (to our knowledge) no standardised format for classifying public policy. The classification system used here is based upon a working model that is being used by the Knowledge Network department of the Cabinet Office.

The full classification levels are displayed below in the large table, you can use this list to identify which classification heading individual topics are listed under or browse through the full list.

To locate individual topics:
Look up alphabetically:  a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y 

To search for individual topics:
Use our search function:

Symbol Key:
Indicates that this subject is also a classification.
The number indicates which level the classification belongs to.

Indicates further classification information such as scope notes, inclusions and related subjects.
These Notes will automatically open a pop-up window.

Subject	Level 3 Classification	Level 2 Classification	Level 1 Classification
A
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A Levels	-	Lifelong learning/training	Education/Training
Abattoirs	-	Livestock industries	Industry Sectors
Abortion	-	Family planning/Birth control	Health & Social Care
Accidents (public)	Civil emergencies	Emergencies and emergency services	Law, Order and Justice
Accommodation (housing)	-	Housing	Society
Accommodation (tourism)	Tourism	Distribution and services industries	Industry Sectors
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome	AIDS/HIV	Public health	Health & Social Care
Acquisitions (business)	-	Monopolies/Mergers	Economics/Finance
Acute services (NHS)	Secondary health care	National Health Service (NHS)	Health & Social Care
Addictive substance use	-	Addictive substance use	Society
Adolescents	Young people	People	Society
Adoption services	-	Social care	Health & Social Care
Adult education	-	Lifelong learning/training	Education/Training
Advertising standards	Advertising standards	Media/Press	Information Access
Aged people	Older people	People	Society
Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries	-	-	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Agrochemicals use/abuse	-	Agrochemicals use/abuse	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Aid (charitable giving)	-	Charities	Business/Trade
Aid (international)	-	International development	International Affairs
AIDS/HIV	AIDS/HIV	Public health	Health & Social Care
Air Force	-	Armed Forces	Defence
Air Transport	-	Air Transport	Transport
Airports	-	Air transport	Transport
Alcohol drinks	-	Drinks	Food and Drink
Alcohol use/abuse	Alcohol use/abuse	Addictive substance use	Society
Ambulance services	-	Emergencies and emergency services	Law, Order and Justice
Animal disease	-	Animal health	Health & Social Care
Animal health	-	Animal health	Health & Social Care
Animal production	-	Farming	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Animal quarantine	-	Animal health	Health & Social Care
Animal rights and welfare	-	Animal rights and welfare	Society
Animal welfare	-	Animal rights and welfare	Society
Apprenticeships	-	Lifelong learning/training	Education/Training
Architecture	Architecture	Arts and culture	Society
Armed Forces	-	Armed Forces	Defence
Arms control/Disarmament	Arms control/Disarmament	Defence policy	Defence
Arms proliferation	Arms control/Disarmament	Defence policy	Defence
Army	-	Armed Forces	Defence
Army ranges	-	Defence land & buildings	Defence
Art galleries	Museums and galleries	Arts and culture	Society
Arts and culture	-	Arts and culture	Society
Asylum	-	Immigration and asylum	Society
Atomic Weapons Establishment	-	Defence policy	Defence
Automotive industry	Motor industry	Manufacturing	Industry Sectors
Aviation	-	Air transport	Transport
B
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Baby foods	-	Baby foods	Food and Drink
Banking	Financial service industries	Distribution and services industries	Industry Sectors
Baseline assessment (education)	-	Pre-16 learning/Schools	Education/Training
Beacon schools	-	Pre-16 learning/Schools	Education/Training
Beef industry	-	Livestock industries	Industry Sectors
Beer	-	Drinks	Food and Drink
Beverages	-	Drinks	Food and Drink
Bilateral relations (international)	-	Foreign relations	International Affairs
Biological warfare/defence	-	Defence policy	Defence
Biotechnology	-	Biotechnology	Science, Technology and Innovation
Birth control	-	Family planning/Birth control	Health & Social Care
Births (numbers)	-	Population and migration	Society
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy	BSE, CJD and TSEs	Animal health	Health & Social Care
Bovine tuberculosis	Tuberculosis	Animal health	Health & Social Care
Breast cancer screening	-	Preventive medicine	Health & Social Care
Broadcasting	Broadcasting	Media/Press	Information Access
Brucellosis	-	Animal health	Health & Social Care
BSE, CJD and TSEs	BSE, CJD and TSEs	Animal health	Health & Social Care
BSI standards	-	Standards, weights & measures	Business/Trade
Budget (national)	-	Government spending	Economics/Finance
Budgeting (public sector)	-	Government spending	Economics/Finance
Building/Construction	-	Building/Construction	Industry Sectors
Bullying at school	-	Pre-16 learning/Schools	Education/Training
Business intelligence	-	Intelligence	Information Access
Business/Trade	-	-	Business/Trade
Butter	-	Milk and dairy products	Food and Drink
C
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Canals	-	Inland waterways	Transport
Cancer	Cancer	Public health	Health & Social Care
Cancer screening	-	Preventive medicine	Health & Social Care
CAP (Common Agricultural Policy)	-	Common Agricultural Policy	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Capital gains tax	-	Taxation	Economics/Finance
Capital/Financial markets	-	Capital/Financial markets	Business/Trade
Car manufacture	Motor industry	Manufacturing	Industry Sectors
Cardiovascular diseases	Heart disease	Public health	Health & Social Care
Care in the community services	-	Social care	Health & Social Care
Cargo transport	-	Freight transport	Transport
Catch limits (fishing)	-	Fisheries	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Catering services	Food and drink services	Distribution and services industries	Industry Sectors
Censorship	-	-	Information Access
Censuses	-	Population and migration	Society
Central government	-	Central government	Government, Politics and Public Administration
Charities	-	Charities	Business/Trade
Cheese	-	Milk and dairy products	Food and Drink
Chemical industry	Chemical industry	Manufacturing	Industry Sectors
Chemical warfare/defence	-	Defence policy	Defence
Children	Families and children	People	Society
Children's care services	-	Social care	Health & Social Care
Cities	-	Urban areas	Environment and Resources Planning
City academics	-	Pre-16 learning/Schools	Education/Training
Civil emergencies	Civil emergencies	Emergencies and emergency services	Law, Order and Justice
Civil justice system	-	Justice system	Law, Order and Justice
Civil law	Civil law	Law/Legislation	Law, Order and Justice
Civil rights	-	Civil rights	Society
Civil Service	-	Civil Service	Government, Politics and Public Administration
CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease)	BSE, CJD and TSEs	Animal health	Health & Social Care
Class sizes	-	Pre-16 learning/Schools	Education/Training
Classical swine fever	-	Animal health	Health & Social Care
Climate change	Climate change	Environmental protection	Environment and Resources Planning
Clinical services (NHS)	Secondary health care	National Health Service (NHS)	Health & Social Care
Clinics (private)	Private hospitals	Private health care	Health & Social Care
Cluster bombs (clearance and control)	Arms control/Disarmament	Defence policy	Defence
Coal	Fossil fuels	Energy/Fuel	Environment and Resources Planning
Coal mining	-	Mineral extraction, mining, quarrying	Industry Sectors
Coastal erosion/protection	Coastal erosion/protection	Environmental protection	Environment and Resources Planning
Coastguard services	-	Emergencies and emergency services	Law, Order and Justice
Colleges	-	Lifelong learning/training	Education/Training
Commerce and trade	-	-	Business/Trade
Common Agricultural Policy	-	Common Agricultural Policy	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	European Union	International Affairs
Commonwealth	Commonwealth	International organisations	International Affairs
Communications industries	-	Communications industries	Industry Sectors
Communications systems (Armed Forces)	-	Defence equipment & supplies	Defence
Competitiveness	-	Competitiveness	Business/Trade
Computers	-	Information technology	Science, Technology and Innovation
Congestion (road traffic)	-	Roads and road transport	Transport
Conservation (energy)	Energy conservation	Energy/Fuel	Environment and Resources Planning
Conservation (nature)	Nature conservation	Environmental protection	Environment and Resources Planning
Conservative Party	-	Political Parties	Government, Politics and Public Administration
Constitutional issues	-	Constitutional issues	Government, Politics and Public Administration
Construction industry	-	Building/Construction	Industry Sectors
Consumer affairs	-	Consumer affairs	Business/Trade
Consumer protection	-	Consumer affairs	Business/Trade
Copyright	-	Intellectual property	Information Access
Coronary heart disease	Heart disease	Public health	Health & Social Care
Corporation tax	Corporation tax	Taxation	Economics/Finance
Corruption	-	Ethical issues	Society
Council tax	Local Taxation	Taxation	Economics/Finance
Countryside	-	Countryside	Environment and Resources Planning
Courier services	Distribution services	Distribution and services industries	Industry Sectors
Courts of law	Courts of law	Justice system	Law, Order and Justice
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease	BSE, CJD and TSEs	Animal health	Health & Social Care
Crime preventation	-	Crime/Crime reduction	Law, Order and Justice
Crime reduction	-	Crime/Crime reduction	Law, Order and Justice
Crime/Crime reduction	-	Crime/Crime reduction	Law, Order and Justice
Crimes against property	Crimes against property	Crime/Crime reduction	Law, Order and Justice
Crimes against the person	Crimes against the person	Crime/Crime reduction	Law, Order and Justice
Crimes against the state	Crimes against the state	Crime/Crime reduction	Law, Order and Justice
Criminal justice system	-	Justice system	Law, Order and Justice
Criminal law	Criminal law	Law/Legislation	Law, Order and Justice
Crop diseases	-	Plant health	Health & Social Care
Crops	-	Farming	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Culture (in society)	-	Arts and culture	Society
Customs & Excise	-	Customs & Excise	Law, Order and Justice
Customs levies	Customs levies	Taxation	Economics/Finance
Cycling (recreation)	-	Sports/Recreation	Society
Cycling (transport)	-	Roads and road transport	Transport
D
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Dairy farming	-	Farming	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Dairy products	-	Milk and dairy products	Food and Drink
Data protection	-	Privacy/Data protection	Information Access
Data security	-	Data security	Information Access
Death duties	-	Taxation	Economics/Finance
Deaths (numbers)	-	Population and migration	Society
Defence	-	-	Defence
Defence agencies	-	Defence agencies	Defence
Defence alliances and organisations	Defence alliances and organisations	Defence policy	Defence
Defence equipment & supplies	-	Defence equipment & supplies	Defence
Defence estates	-	Defence land & buildings	Defence
Defence industries	Defence industries	Manufacturing	Industry Sectors
Defence land & buildings	-	Defence land & buildings	Defence
Defence medical services	-	Armed Forces	Defence
Defence policy	-	Defence policy	Defence
Defence procurement	-	Defence equipment & supplies	Defence
Dental health	-	Dental health	Health & Social Care
Devolution	Devolution	Constitutional issues	Government, Politics and Public Administration
Devolved administrations	-	Devolved administrations	Government, Politics and Public Administration
Disability services	-	Social care	Health & Social Care
Disabled people	Disabled people	People	Society
Disarmament	Arms control/Disarmament	Defence policy	Defence
Disasters (public)	Civil emergencies	Emergencies and emergency services	Law, Order and Justice
Discrimination by sex, race, religion, etc	-	Equal opportunities	Society
Disease (animals)	-	Animal health	Health & Social Care
Distribution and service industries	-	Distribution and service industries	Industry Sectors
Distribution services	Distribution services	Distribution and services industries	Industry Sectors
Drinks	-	Drinks	Food and Drink
Drought	Civil emergencies	Emergencies and emergency services	Law, Order and Justice
Drug education	Health education	Public health	Health & Social Care
Drug-related crime	Drug-related crime	Crime/Crime reduction	Law, Order and Justice
Drugs use/abuse	Drugs use/abuse	Addictive substance use	Society
Duties (excise)	Excise duties	Taxation	Economics/Finance
E
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e-Commerce	-	e-Commerce	Business/Trade
e-Government	e-Government	Modernising government	Government, Politics and Public Administration
e-Security	Data security	Security	Law, Order and Justice
Early Years education	-	Pre-16 learning/Schools	Education/Training
Earthquakes	Civil emergencies	Emergencies and emergency services	Law, Order and Justice
Economic development	-	Economic development	Economics/Finance
Economic indicators	-	Macroeconomy	Economics/Finance
Economics/Finance	-	-	Economics/Finance
Education action zones	-	Pre-16 learning/Schools	Education/Training
Education/Training	-	-	Education/Training
Elderly people	Older people	People	Society
Elections	-	Electoral system	Government, Politics and Public Administration
Electoral reform	-	Electoral system	Government, Politics and Public Administration
Electoral system	-	Electoral system	Government, Politics and Public Administration
Electronic commerce	-	e-Commerce	Business/Trade
Electronic patient data protection	-	Privacy/Data protection	Information Access
Emergencies (public)	Civil emergencies	Emergencies and emergency services	Law, Order and Justice
Emergencies and emergency services	-	Emergencies and emergency services	Law, Order and Justice
Employees	Occupations and employees	People	Society
Employment	-	-	Employment
Employment opportunities	-	New deal (employment)	Employment
Employment relations	-	Employment relations	Employment
Energy conservation	Energy conservation	Energy/Fuel	Environment and Resources Planning
Energy/Fuel	-	Energy/Fuel	Environment and Resources Planning
Environment and Resources Planning	-	-	Environment and Resources Planning
Environmental degradation	-	Environmental protection	Environment and Resources Planning
Environmental health	Environmental health	Public health	Health & Social Care
Environmental protection	-	Environmental protection	Environment and Resources Planning
Equal opportunities	-	Equal opportunities	Society
ESAs (Environmentally Sensitive Areas)	-	Environmental protection	Environment and Resources Planning
Ethical issues	-	Ethical issues	Society
Ethnic minorities	Minority groups	People	Society
EU (Euopean Union)	-	European Union	International Affairs
Euro/EMU	-	Euro/EMU	Economics/Finance
European Monetary Union	-	Euro/EMU	Economics/Finance
European Union	-	European Union	International Affairs
Excise duties	Excise duties	Taxation	Economics/Finance
Executive agencies	Executive agencies	Central government	Government, Politics and Public Administration
Exports/Imports	-	Exports/Imports	Business/Trade
Extradition	-	Extradition	International Affairs
F
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Families and children	Families and children	People	Society
Family planning/Birth control	-	Family planning/Birth control	Health & Social Care
Famine	Civil emergencies	Emergencies and emergency services	Law, Order and Justice
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN)	United Nations	International organisations	International Affairs
Farming	-	Farming	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Ferries (marine)	-	Ports and maritime transport	Transport
Fertilizers use/abuse	-	Agrochemicals use/abuse	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Film-making	-	Communications industries	Industry Sectors
Financial markets	-	Capital/Financial markets	Business/Trade
Financial service industries	Financial service industries	Distribution and services industries	Industry Sectors
Fire service	Fire service	Emergencies and emergency services	Law, Order and Justice
Firearms/Firearm control	-	Firearms/Firearm control	Law, Order and Justice
Fish	-	Fish	Food and Drink
Fish farming	-	Fisheries	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Fisheries	-	Fisheries	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Fishing industry	-	Fisheries	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Flexible working	-	Flexible working	Employment
Flexitime	-	Flexible working	Employment
Flooding disasters	Civil emergencies	Emergencies and emergency services	Law, Order and Justice
Food additive labelling	-	Food labelling	Food and Drink
Food and Drink	-	-	Food and Drink
Food and drink services	Food and drink services	Distribution and services industries	Industry Sectors
Food labelling	-	Food labelling	Food and Drink
Food manufacturing industry	Food manufacturing industry	Manufacturing	Industry Sectors
Food safety	-	Food safety	Food and Drink
Food supply	-	Food supply	Food and Drink
Football	Football	Sports/Recreation	Society
Foreign policy	-	Foreign policy	International Affairs
Foreign relations	-	Foreign relations	International Affairs
Forestry	-	Forestry	Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries
Fossil fuels	Fossil fuels	Energy/Fuel	Environment and Resources Planning
Foundation degrees	-	Lifelong learning/training	Education/Training
Fox hunting	Fox hunting	Sports/Recreation	Society
Freedom of information	-	Freedom of information</