Policy Advice and Ministerial Servicing
Quality Assurance Processes
The Ministry has a formal policy framework within which all policy issues may be assessed, options developed and analysed, and consultation with interested parties effected. This framework is consistent with the processes employed by many other government agencies, and helps ensure consistency of approach and focus throughout the Ministry and with broader government policy. Consultation with interested parties is undertaken throughout this process, and advice from the Ministry's Legal Directorate is also sought where appropriate.
Within the policy framework, significant influences on the quality of output delivery included:
- gauging of Ministers' satisfaction through regular (usually weekly) meetings, which provide frequent opportunities for feedback on the level of satisfaction with the quality of advice and reporting (the Chief Executive also had discussions with each Minister on the Ministry's performance and forward work programme as part of the Ministry's regular review processes);
- standard quality assurance procedures applied throughout the Ministry, which require that all reports to Ministers and letters for their signature are normally signed out by a Deputy Secretary, a director, a manager or a senior advisor depending on the complexity or sensitivity of the issue being dealt with; and
- consultation with external groups on an informal basis or the release of discussion papers on which formal submissions are received.
Standards for Policy Advice
The Ministry will seek a six-monthly written response 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, 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.
Coverage
The Ministry provides 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 the House.
Quality
The Ministry supplies high-quality individual products conforming to the quality characteristics outlined below and assessed by the Ministers' satisfaction, as reported in the Ministers' response sheets.
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) are assessed and any value judgement is 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, and is 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 final cost is within budget. This is assessed by comparing the final cost with the Estimates of Appropriations.
Ministerial Servicing Standards
All draft Ministerial correspondence is submitted to the Minister within 10 working days of receipt in the Ministry.
Where only an interim reply is possible, a final reply shall be provided within the following timeframes:
- 90% within 20 working days of the original receipt in the Ministry; and
- 100% within 30 working days of receipt in the Ministry.
Parliamentary questions and Ministerial correspondence are responded to within agreed and statutory time frames. Quantities of Ministerial servicing for each output expense are as stated in the table set out in this report. (Performance standards are in brackets.)
Ministerial Servicing Performance
(Standards are in brackets where applicable)
Vote Economic, Industry and Regional Development
| Quantity and Timeliness |
Output Expense |
| Policy Advice and Sector Leadership – Firm Capability, Sectoral and Regional Development
|
Policy Advice – Small Business |
| Ministerial Correspondence Actual (Estimated) |
111 (80–100) |
48 (60–80) |
| 100% submitted within 10 working days |
97% |
88%14 |
| Interim replies provided: |
No interim replies |
No interim replies |
| 90% within 20 working days |
N/A |
N/A |
| 100% within 30 working days |
N/A |
N/A |
| Parliamentary Questions Actual (Estimated) |
852 (120)15 |
70 (30) |
Vote Commerce
| Quantity and Timeliness |
Output Expense |
| Policy and Purchase Advice – Business Law and Competition Policy |
Admini-stration of Part II Tariff Concessions |
Admini-
stration of Trade Remedies |
Registration and Granting of Intellectual Property Rights |
Admini-
stration of Insolvencies |
Registration and Provision of Statutory Information |
| Ministerial Correspondence Actual (Estimated) |
189 (150–200) |
1 (0–5) |
0 (0–5) |
2 (0–10) |
23 (10–20) |
20 (0–10) |
| 100% submitted within 10 working days |
96% |
100% |
N/A |
100% |
96% |
100% |
| Interim replies provided: |
No interim replies |
No interim replies |
No interim replies |
No interim replies |
No interim replies |
No interim replies |
| 90% within 20 working days |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| 100% within 30 working days |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Parliamentary Questions Actual (Estimated) |
125 (50–75) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
Vote Communications
| Quantity and Timeliness |
Output Expense |
| Policy Advice –Communications |
Management and Enforcement of the Radiocommunications Act 1989 |
| Ministerial Correspondence Actual (Estimated) |
347 (300–350) |
0 (0–10) |
| 100% submitted within 10 working days |
88% |
N/A |
| Interim replies provided: |
No interim replies |
No interim replies |
| 90% within 20 working days |
N/A |
N/A |
| 100% within 30 working days |
N/A |
N/A |
| Parliamentary Questions Actual (Estimated) |
52 (20–50) |
0 (0) |
Vote Consumer Affairs
| Quantity and Timeliness |
Output Expense |
| Policy Advice and Support – Consumer Issues |
Enforcement and Conformance |
| Ministerial Correspondence Actual (Estimated) |
144 (60–80) |
30 (10–15) |
| 100% submitted within 10 working days |
95% |
100% |
| Interim replies provided: |
No interim replies |
No interim replies |
| 90% within 20 working days |
N/A |
N/A |
| 100% within 30 working days |
N/A |
N/A |
| Parliamentary Questions Actual (Estimated) |
33 (10–15) |
0 (0) |
Vote Energy
| Quantity and Timeliness |
Output Expense |
| Policy Advice – Energy and Resource Issues |
Management of the Crown Mineral Estate |
Administration of Gas and Electricity Regulations |
Provision of Climate Change Register and Information |
Energy and Resource Information Services |
| Ministerial Correspondence Actual (Estimated) |
412 (600–700) |
38 (40–50) |
41 (33) |
3 (0-10) |
7 (20–50) |
| 100% submitted within 10 working days |
96% |
97% |
95% |
100% |
86%16 |
| Interim replies provided: |
No interim replies |
No interim replies |
No interim replies |
No interim replies |
No interim replies |
| 90% within 20 working days |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| 100% within 30 working days |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Parliamentary Questions Actual (Estimated) |
76 (80–120) |
0 (0) |
8 (0–5) |
0 (0–5) |
0 (0–5) |
Vote Tourism
| Quantity and Timeliness |
Output Expense |
| Policy Advice – Tourism |
| Ministerial Correspondence Actual (Estimated) |
103 (200) |
| 100% submitted within 10 working days |
90%17 |
| Interim replies provided: |
No interim replies |
| 90% within 20 working days |
N/A |
| 100% within 30 working days |
N/A |
| Parliamentary Questions Actual (Estimated) |
46 (80) |
Performance against Policy Advice Standards (by Vote)
|
Economic,
Industry and Regional Development |
Commerce |
Commun-
ications |
Consumer Affairs |
Energy |
Tourism |
| Quality |
| The Ministry's Policy Framework provides that advice has the quality characteristics listed
above. |
| Coverage |
| Provision of 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 the House. |
(4) for policy advice services provided in the first half-year |
(4) for policy advice services provided in the first half-year |
(4) for policy advice services provided in the first half-year |
(4) for policy advice services provided in the first half-year |
(4) for policy advice services provided in the first half-year |
No feedback provided |
| The Ministers' feedback is within the range (3) "met my expectations" to (5) "greatly exceeded my expectations" in the regular review of the Ministry's performance.18 |
(3) for policy advice services provided in the second half-year |
(4) for policy advice services provided in the second half-year |
(4) for policy advice services provided in the second half-year |
(4) for policy advice services provided in the second half-year |
(4) for policy advice services provided in the second half-year |
No feedback provided |
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