IT:AD:Documentation:Green Paper

A green paper is a tentative government report and consultation document of policy proposals for debate and discussion. A green paper represents the best that the government can propose on the given issue, but, remaining uncommitted, it is able without loss of face to leave its final decision open until it has been able to consider the public reaction to it.

White papers, on the other hand, are a way the government can present policy preferences before introducing legislation. They are a way to test public opinion and gauge probable impact on potentially controversial policy issues.