ABSTRACT
This chapter assesses the accuracy of the hypotheses, and considers whether integrated pollution control (IPC) represents a fundamental shift in UK environmental policy. Analysis has confirmed the hypothesis, that industrial air pollution policy was the domain of a policy community. The air and IPC policy communities have the same membership and resource dimensions. The chapter aims to reflect upon the study of IPC and to draw conclusions regarding the utility of policy networks for analyses of the policy process. The integration dimension of policy networks helped explain some of the events during IPC policy formulation too. The chapter discusses that an assessment is made into the adequacy of the policy networks framework as a tool for analysing the policy process. It also discusses the future prospects for IPC. The chapter also presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book.
