Quality Standards for Policy Advice and Ministerial Servicing
Quality Management
The quality of policy advice will be supported by a quality management process including:
- an external review of scope and methodology for major analytical work;
- circulation of drafts for critiquing by other government agencies and other parties as appropriate;
- internal peer review and checking procedures; and
- adherence to the Ministry's Policy Framework.
Note: A large part of the Ministry's policy advice requires the co-operation of other government agencies and is determined by the priorities and timetables of Cabinet and its Committees. The Ministry's performance in terms of the standards may be affected by these factors which are outside its control. These factors will be included in the assessment process and will be acknowledged whenever they impact performance.
Policy Advice
The Ministry will seek a written response, at least six-monthly, from Ministers on its performance against the following quality standards.
Quantity
Project work is agreed in the year's work programme, and modified by agreement between Ministers and the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Economic Development, and where appropriate, the General Manager of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the General Manager of the Ministry of Tourism in the course of the year.
Quality
The Ministry will supply high-quality individual products conforming to the quality characteristics outlined below and assessed by the Ministers' satisfaction, as reported in the Ministers' six-monthly response sheets.
Coverage
The Ministry will provide a comprehensive service that:
- has the capacity to react urgently;
- offers timely and relevant briefings on significant issues; and
- supports Ministers as required in Cabinet Committees, Select Committees and in the House.
Quality Characteristics
Purpose
An objective for the policy advice has been clearly stated including its relationship to the Government's desired outcomes and objectives.
Focus
There is a clear and logical statement of the issue or problem and why it necessitates Ministerial action.
Viability
Viable options to address the issue are presented and the costs/benefits and winners/losers for each, relative to the policy objective, assessed and any value judgement brought to the attention of Ministers.
Logic
The assumptions behind the advice and the logic of how options will resolve issues and achieve objectives are clear.
Accuracy
The facts are accurate and based on reliable research or evaluation findings or other appropriate information.
Practicality
The advice draws on appropriate knowledge and experience and the practicalities of implementing it are clearly explained including any legal, machinery of government, Treaty of Waitangi or other issues or risks that require management.
Consultation
Interested government agencies and affected parties have been consulted and their views considered.
Presentation
The advice is presented clearly, logically, in plain and grammatically correct English, free from any typographical or spelling errors and conforms to Cabinet Office requirements.
Recommendations
Recommendations are clear, logical, action-oriented and can stand alone from the rest of the advice.
Timeliness
Specified reporting deadlines are met.
Cost
The outturn is within budget. This is assessed by comparing the outturn with the Estimates of Appropriations.
Ministerial Servicing Performance
Draft replies to Ministerial correspondence are to be submitted to Ministers within 10 working days of receipt in the Ministry in 100% of cases in all Votes.
Parliamentary questions and Ministerial correspondence will be responded to within agreed and statutory timeframes. Expected quantities of Ministerial servicing for each Output Class will be as stated in the table set out in this report.
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