In the first report (covering the three-month period 1 July to 30 September 2001), the focus of work to implement the Strategy was on extending or enhancing work that departments had already planned to do. The current report (based on the same workplans but for the last three quarters of that year) shows progress in these areas and, in some instances, reports on new projects to which departments have committed resources.

While the first report suggested considerable progress in the implementation of the Strategy by departments for the first quarter of 2001, in some areas the progress over the whole year appears to have been less than expected. Few measurable results are apparent at this stage that indicate how well projects are progressing. This will improve in future reports when a robust monitoring and evaluation system has been developed.

In order to better measure progress in achieving the Strategy's objectives, a long-term monitoring framework and evaluation process will be developed by the Office for Disability Issues, in conjunction with other departments and the disability sector. Overarching reviews of progress will also be undertaken after five and ten years.

Some apparent lack of progress can, in part, be attributed to reporting timeframes. In some instances projects (such as the setting up of the Office for Disability Issues) have been actioned but they do not appear in implementation plans or departmental progress reports, as the project is complete before the next year's plan is developed.

The government is taking the lead in implementing the Strategy. However, the Strategy's long-term success will also depend on the active support of other agencies, such as territorial local authorities and non-governmental organisations. In the first report some progress related to activities by these agencies was noted. In this second report progress from territorial local authorities and non-governmental organisations has not been noted. A separate report will do this at a later date, and it is hoped to include as many of these organisations as possible.