IT:AD:Documentation:White Paper

White papers 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.

Green papers, on the other hand, are issued much more frequently and are more open-ended. Also known as consultation documents, green papers may merely propose a strategy to implement in the details of other legislation, or they may set out proposals on which the government wishes to obtain public views and opinion.