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Annual Report 2004/05
Part 2 - Financial Summary and Service Performance
Service Performance: Output Class 9- Policy Advice and Development

Service Performance: Output Class 9- Policy Advice and Development

This output class involves the provision of advice, development of policies and Ministerial servicing relating to reducing re-offending, the effective management of corrections services, and the review, evaluation and development of service standards.

OUTPUT CLASS STATEMENT: POLICY ADVICE AND DEVELOPMENT
For the Year Ended 30 June 2005

30/06/04 Actual $000		30/06/05 Actual $000	Main Estimates $000	Supp. Estimates $000
	REVENUE
4,070	Crown	5,309	4,468	5,309
0	Other	0	0	0
4,070	Total Revenue	5,309	4,468	5,309
3,981	Total Expenses	4,938	4,468	5,309
89	Net Surplus	371	0	0

OUTPUT 9.1 Policy Advice and Development Services

This output involves the provision of policy advice and development services.

	2003/04	Performance Standard 2004/05
Performance Measure	Actual	Actual	Budget	Variance
Quantity
Advice will be provided according to a work programme agreed with the Minister of Corrections:	79%	100%	100%	Nil
Quality
The Minister of Corrections will expect advice to be delivered according to the quality standards as outlined below: the aims of the paper have been clearly stated and they answer the questions that have been set the assumptions behind the advice are explicit, and the argument is logical and supported by the facts the facts in the paper are accurate and all material facts have been included an adequate range of options has been presented and each has been assessed for benefits, costs and consequences to the Government and the community there is evidence of adequate consultation with interested parties and possible objections to proposals have been identified the problems of implementation, technical feasibility, timing and consistency with other policies have been considered the format meets Cabinet Office requirements, the material is effectively and concisely summarised, has short sentences in plain English and is free of spelling or grammatical errors.	100%	100%	100%	Nil
Timeliness
Policy advice purchased will be delivered within the specific reporting deadlines agreed with the Minister of Corrections:	79%	100%	100%	Nil

OUTPUT 9.2 Ministerial Servicing

This output involves the purchase of analysis, research and drafting of responses to Ministerial correspondence and to Parliamentary questions received by the Minister of Corrections.

	2003/04	Performance Standard 2004/05
Performance Measure	Actual	Actual	Budget	Variance
Quantity
The number of responses to be prepared to Ministerial correspondence is estimated to be:	479	481	600	–119
The number of responses to Parliamentary questions is estimated to be:	806	450	700	–250
Quality
The percentage of replies returned for redrafting not to exceed:	20%	15%	10%	5%
All responses signed out by either a general manager or, in his or her absence, an appropriate manager to be:	100%	100%	100%	Nil
Timeliness
The percentage of responses to Ministerial correspondence completed within the timeframes agreed with the Minister’s Office to be no less than:	74%	67%	90%	–23%
The percentage of responses to Parliamentary questions completed within the timeframes set by the Minister’s office to be:	90%	84%	100%	–16%

Comment

The volume of Ministerial correspondence was lower than expected for the year, perhaps due to political attention surrounding law and order issues being focused on other portfolios. Notwithstanding, the overall complexity of correspondence topics, and the level of research and consultation required for complete and accurate responses, did not diminish.

The number of Parliamentary questions, particularly in the final quarter, was also significantly lower than anticipated, probably due to political energies being re-directed towards the forthcoming election.

Responses returned for re-drafting covered a wide variety of subjects, with re-write requests usually involving politically sensitive topics and, in a small number of instances, the correction of proof-reading errors. In addition, the Minister also requested the provision of more background information on a number of issues.

Overdue items of Ministerial correspondence continued to be prisoner related, necessitating the receipt of information from prisons. The sensitive nature of this information (including Official Information Act requests) demands particular care in research, drafting and compilation.

OUTPUT 9.3 Provision of Psychological and Other Research

This output involves the provision of psychological research and other approved research projects related to corrections services.

	2003/04	Performance Standard 2004/05
Performance Measure	Actual	Actual	Budget	Variance
Quantity
The percentage of research and evaluation delivered to agreed project milestones:	100%	88%	100%	–12%
The percentage of psychological and other research that will be provided to the following criteria contained in the Psychological Service Manual: the hypothesis/aim of the research is clearly stated; capable of being tested; uses minimal variables; is resourced appropriately data collection is to meet appropriate standards of research design, and appropriate analysis tools are to be used the results are accurately and clearly described there is concise and thorough explanation of the implications of the results for the issues investigated the research should be peer reviewed both internally and externally the report is written in a format appropriate to the audience the aims of the paper are accurate and all material facts have been included the material is free of spelling or grammatical errors and an executive summary is provided if the report exceeds five pages when possible the material is published within internationally recognised journals.	100%	100%	100%	Nil

Comment

Delays were experienced in commencing a number of research projects while some aspects of the proposed work were clarified within the Department. In addition, during the year, one researcher was central to the preparation and presentation of the Department’s evidence for Waitangi Tribunal hearing claims, while another researcher continued to represent the Department at court and New Zealand Parole Board hearings regarding risk assessments.

Part one of a research project could not be completed in 2004/05, because Information Technology changes during the year precluded the Psychological Service from accessing the recidivism data required.