Estimates of appropriations

Vote Office of the Clerk - Finance and Government Administration Sector - Estimates 2019/20

Vote Office of the Clerk#

APPROPRIATION MINISTER(S): Speaker of the House of Representatives (M78)

APPROPRIATION ADMINISTRATOR: Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives

RESPONSIBLE MINISTER FOR OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Speaker of the House of Representatives

Overview of the Vote#

The Speaker of the House of Representatives is responsible for appropriations in Vote Office of the Clerk for the 2019/20 financial year. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is the principal permanent officer of the House and carries out the functions required of the Clerk specified in section 3 of the Clerk of the House of Representatives Act 1988 (the Act). While the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives is responsible for administering the Vote, the Office's primary purpose is to assist the Clerk in carrying out those functions specified in section 3 of the Act.

Total appropriations in Vote Office of the Clerk for 2019/20 cover the following:

  • a total of just over $20 million for the provision of secretariat services for the House of Representatives, including professional advice and services designed to assist the House in the fulfilment of its constitutional functions and to enable participation in, and an understanding of, parliamentary proceedings
  • a total of just over $2 million for capital expenditure, and
  • a total of nearly $4 million over three years for Inter-Parliamentary Relations. This appropriation is limited to engagement with international parliamentary organisations and other parliaments, and Speaker-led diplomacy.

Details of these appropriations are set out in Parts 2-4.

Details of Appropriations and Capital Injections#

Annual Appropriations and Forecast Permanent Appropriations#

  2018/19 2019/20
Titles and Scopes of Appropriations by Appropriation Type Final
Budgeted
$000
Estimated
Actual
$000
Budget
$000

Departmental Output Expenses

     

Secretariat Services for the House of Representatives (M78)

This appropriation is limited to the provision to the House of Representatives of professional advice and services designed to assist the House in the fulfilment of its constitutional functions, and enabling participation in, and understanding of, parliamentary proceedings.
19,502 19,502 20,423

Total Departmental Output Expenses

19,502 19,502 20,423

Departmental Capital Expenditure

     

Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives - Capital Expenditure PLA (M78)

This appropriation is limited to the purchase or development of assets by and for the use of the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as authorised by section 24(1) of the Public Finance Act 1989.
1,739 1,739 2,040

Total Departmental Capital Expenditure

1,739 1,739 2,040

Total Annual Appropriations and Forecast Permanent Appropriations

21,241 21,241 22,463

Multi-Year Appropriations#

Type, Title, Scope and Period of Appropriations Appropriations, Adjustments and Use $000

Departmental Output Expenses

   

Inter-parliamentary Relations (M78)

This appropriation is limited to engagement with international parliamentary organisations and other parliaments, and Speaker-led diplomacy.

Commences: 01 July 2017

Expires: 30 June 2020
Original Appropriation 3,555
Adjustments to 2017/18 -
Adjustments for 2018/19 103
Adjusted Appropriation 3,658
Actual to 2017/18 Year End 1,094
Estimated Actual for 2018/19 1,779
Estimate for 2019/20 785
Estimated Appropriation Remaining -

Total Annual Appropriations and Forecast Permanent Appropriations and Multi-Year Appropriations#

  2018/19 2019/20
  Final
Budgeted
$000
Estimated
Actual
$000
Budget
$000
Total Annual Appropriations and Forecast Permanent Appropriations 21,241 21,241 22,463
Total Forecast MYA Departmental Output Expenses 1,779 1,779 785

Total Annual Appropriations and Forecast Permanent Appropriations and Multi-Year Appropriations

23,020 23,020 23,248

Capital Injection Authorisations#

  2018/19 2019/20
  Final Budgeted
$000
Estimated Actual
$000
Budget
$000
Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives - Capital Injection (M78) - - -

Supporting Information#

Part 1 - Vote as a Whole#

1.1 - New Policy Initiatives#

Policy Initiative Appropriation 2018/19
Final Budgeted
$000
2019/20
Budget
$000
2020/21
Estimated
$000
2021/22
Estimated
$000
2022/23
Estimated
$000
Maintaining Core Services to the House of Representatives Secretariat Services for the House of Representatives
Departmental Output Expense
- 579 611 620 630
Total Initiatives   - 579 611 620 630
Summary of Financial Activity
  2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23
  Actual
$000
Actual
$000
Actual
$000
Actual
$000
Final Budgeted
$000
Estimated
Actual
$000
Departmental
Transactions
Budget
$000
Non-
Departmental
Transactions
Budget
$000
Total
Budget
$000
Estimated
$000
Estimated
$000
Estimated
$000

Appropriations

                       
Output Expenses 18,242 19,017 19,967 20,183 21,281 21,281 21,208 - 21,208 21,640 21,649 21,659
Benefits or Related Expenses - - - - - - N/A - - - - -
Borrowing Expenses - - - - - - - - - - - -
Other Expenses - - - - - - - - - - - -
Capital Expenditure 1,822 1,296 2,920 1,774 1,739 1,739 2,040 - 2,040 2,550 2,550 2,550
Intelligence and Security Department Expenses and Capital Expenditure - - - - - - - N/A - - - -
Multi-Category Expenses and Capital Expenditure (MCA)                        
Output Expenses - - - - - - - - - - - -
Other Expenses - - - - - - - - - - - -
Capital Expenditure - - - - - - N/A - - - - -

Total Appropriations

20,064 20,313 22,887 21,957 23,020 23,020 23,248 - 23,248 24,190 24,199 24,209

Crown Revenue and Capital Receipts

                       
Tax Revenue - - - - - - N/A - - - - -
Non-Tax Revenue - - - - - - N/A - - - - -
Capital Receipts - - - - - - N/A - - - - -

Total Crown Revenue and Capital Receipts

- - - - - - N/A - - - - -

Note - where restructuring of the vote has occurred then, to the extent practicable, prior years information has been restated as if the restructuring had occurred before the beginning of the period covered. In this instance Total Appropriations for the Budgeted and Estimated Actual year may not equal Total Annual Appropriations and Forecast Permanent Appropriations and Multi-Year Appropriations in the Details of Appropriations and Capital Injections.

Adjustments to the Summary of Financial Activity Table Due to Vote Restructuring

There have been no restructuring adjustments to prior year information in the Summary of Financial Activity table.

Analysis of key movements in operating expenses:

  • 2014/15 - lower due to staffing levels as a result of a restructure, delays in publication of Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand and delays in sourcing a closed captioning provider for Parliament TV.
  • 2015/16 - higher due to increases in the cost of ICT services, the Parliament website and costs relating to organisational capability.
  • 2018/19 - higher due to higher capability workforce funding being received to alleviate cost pressures and increase the capability of the Office.

Analysis of key movements in capital expenditure:

  • 2015/16 and 2016/17 - delays resulted in a low spend in 2015/16 and higher spend in 2016/17, on average the spend is standard.
  • Capital spend remains relatively static over the periods reported.

Part 2 - Details of Departmental Appropriations#

2.1 - Departmental Output Expenses#

Inter-parliamentary Relations (M78)
Scope of Appropriation and Expenses
Type, Title, Scope and Period of Appropriations Appropriations, Adjustments and Use $000

Inter-parliamentary Relations (M78)

This appropriation is limited to engagement with international parliamentary organisations and other parliaments, and Speaker-led diplomacy.

Commences: 01 July 2017

Expires: 30 June 2020
Original Appropriation 3,555
Adjustments to 2017/18 -
Adjustments for 2018/19 103
Adjusted Appropriation 3,658
Actual to 2017/18 Year End 1,094
Estimated Actual for 2018/19 1,779
Estimate for 2019/20 785
Estimated Appropriation Remaining -
Revenue
  Budget
$000
Revenue from the Crown to end of 2019/20 3,646
Revenue from Others to end of 2019/20 103
Total Revenue 3,749
What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to build the capability of the New Zealand Parliament and its elected members and advance New Zealand's collective interest through engagement with international parliamentary organisations and other parliaments, contributing to parliamentary strengthening in the Pacific, and Speaker-led diplomacy.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements
  2018/19 2019/20
Assessment of Performance Final Budgeted
Standard
Estimated
Actual
Budget
Standard

All advice to the Speaker and members about inter-parliamentary relations is accurate, practical, and politically aware (see Note 1 under Secretariat Services for the House of Representatives)

100% 100% 100%

The CPA and IPU Executive Committee and CPA and IPU Groups have all the information required to make decisions supporting engagement with inter-parliamentary organisations

100% 100% 100%

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Pacific Regional Meetings have the information required to make decisions affecting the region

100% 100% 100%

The Speaker approves the annual inter-parliamentary programme and it is executed to the satisfaction of the Speaker and members

100% 100% 100%
End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Office of the Clerk in its Annual Report to be presented to the House.

Secretariat Services for the House of Representatives (M78)
Scope of Appropriation
This appropriation is limited to the provision to the House of Representatives of professional advice and services designed to assist the House in the fulfilment of its constitutional functions, and enabling participation in, and understanding of, parliamentary proceedings.
Expenses and Revenue
  2018/19 2019/20
  Final Budgeted
$000
Estimated Actual
$000
Budget
$000
Total Appropriation 19,502 19,502 20,423
Revenue from the Crown 19,443 19,443 20,364
Revenue from Others 59 59 59
What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve a well-supported legislature that meets constitutional requirements for the consideration of legislation, the scrutiny of executive government, and other parliamentary business, and a well-informed public that participates in the legislature's proceedings.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements
  2018/19 2019/20
Assessment of Performance Final Budgeted
Standard
Estimated
Actual
Budget
Standard

Services to the House and committees#

     

All procedural advice to presiding officers, committee chairpersons and members is accurate, practical, and politically aware (see Note 1)

100% 100% 100%

Members have the information and services they require to perform their legislative and scrutiny functions at each sitting of the House and meetings of a select committee (see Note 2)

100% 100% 100%

All resolutions of the House and committees, debates in the House and select committee evidence (if requested by committee) are accurately recorded, published and maintained in accordance with the Standing Orders and practices of the House (see Note 3)

100% 100% 100%

All written and oral questions are scrutinised to the Speaker's satisfaction

100% 100% 100%

All bills are certified as being printed as passed by the House and bills are prepared for assent in a timely basis and in the order passed by the House

100% 100% 100%

All committee reports are accurate and reflect the views of the committee

100% 100% 100%

Public information#

     

Sittings of the House of Representatives are broadcast in accordance with Standing Orders

100% 100% 100%
     

All legal advice complies with quality standards and is timely

100% 100% 100%

All policy developments that significantly affect Parliament have the Clerk's input

100% 100% 100%

Law drafting services#

     

Proportion of members' bills, prepared with the assistance of the OOC, drafted and printed are peer reviewed

80% 80% 90%

Proportion of members' proposed amendments to bills, prepared with the assistance of the OOC, drafted and printed on supplementary order papers are proof read

80% 80% 80%

The proportion of instructing members we survey that indicate satisfaction with the quality and timeliness (see Note 4)

90% 90% 90%

Pecuniary interests#

     

The Registrar is satisfied with all advice on registration of pecuniary interests and that all requests for significant advice are peer reviewed (see Note 5)

100% 100% 100%
Standards for services to the House and committees

Note 1 -

Accurate: means that the advice accords with Standing Orders, Speakers' Rulings, and established practice.

Practical: advice is solution focused, suggesting a clear way forward, has considered technical feasibility, timing, cost, and includes a range of solutions.

Politically aware: advice demonstrates awareness of the wider political environment.

Note 2 - Information and services required by the House for sittings include:

  • preparation of Order Paper for each sitting day
  • scrutiny of questions for oral and written answer
  • scrutiny of notices of motions
  • checking of petitions for compliance with the Standing Orders
  • arrangement of presentation of papers
  • scrutiny of bills and supplementary order papers for compliance with the Standing Orders, and
  • Te Reo Maori and sign language interpreters.

Information and services required by committees include:

  • preparation of notices of meetings, agendas and minutes
  • arrangement of hearings of evidence and brokering of advice for legislative and financial scrutiny and select committee inquiries
  • management of committee papers
  • preparation of draft reports and arrange for their presentation to the House, and
  • Te Reo Maori and sign language interpretation and translation.

Note 3 - Recording, publishing and maintenance of records means:

  • Hansard
  • decisions and business of House are recorded accurately and published to the Journals of the House of Representatives
  • committee proceedings are published to the Parliament website, and
  • all records accord with the Standing Orders, Speakers' Rulings, and established practice.
 
Standards for drafting legislation

Note 4 - The standards of quality in drafting legislation are that the member is satisfied with the final product to the extent that achieving the members' satisfaction with the final product allows the following:

  • the legislation produced gives effect to the member's intentions
  • the legislation produced is drafted as clearly and simply as possible, and
  • the legislation produced is in accordance with the Standing Orders (and is legally sound).
 
Standards for pecuniary interests

Note 5 - Satisfaction means that the Registrar of Pecuniary Interests and Other Specified Interests of Members of Parliament is satisfied that all advice provided by the Office to the Registrar accords with the Standing Orders and practices of the House of Representatives and that all responses to requests for significant advice were peer reviewed.

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by Office of the Clerk in its Annual Report to be presented to the House.

Current and Past Policy Initiative
Policy Initiative Year of
First
Impact
2018/19
Final Budgeted
$000
2019/20
Budget
$000
2020/21
Estimated
$000
2021/22
Estimated
$000
2022/23
Estimated
$000
Current Government            
Maintaining Core Services to the House of Representatives 2019/20 - 579 611 620 630
Past Government            
Office of the Clerk - Higher Capability Workforce 2016/17 930 1,272 1,272 1,272 1,272
Parliamentary Website - Emergency Continuity and Upgrading Publishing Systems 2016/17 650 650 650 650 650
Parliament TV Webcasting 2015/16 180 180 180 180 180
Capital Planning 2015/16 500 500 500 500 500
Reasons for Change in Appropriation

The increase in this appropriation of $921,000 for 2019/20 is due to an increase to maintain core services to the House of Representatives.

2.3 - Departmental Capital Expenditure and Capital Injections#

Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives - Capital Expenditure PLA (M78)
Scope of Appropriation
This appropriation is limited to the purchase or development of assets by and for the use of the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, as authorised by section 24(1) of the Public Finance Act 1989.
Capital Expenditure
  2018/19 2019/20
  Final Budgeted
$000
Estimated Actual
$000
Budget
$000
Forests/Agricultural - - -
Land - - -
Property, Plant and Equipment 1,004 1,004 -
Intangibles 735 735 2,040
Other - - -

Total Appropriation

1,739 1,739 2,040
What is Intended to be Achieved with this Appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve the maintenance and upgrade of the Office of the Clerk's information technology, publishing and broadcasting applications and equipment through development and routine replacement.

How Performance will be Assessed and End of Year Reporting Requirements

Expenditure is in accordance with Office of the Clerk's long term capital expenditure plan.

End of Year Performance Reporting

Performance information for this appropriation will be reported by the Office of the Clerk in its Annual Report to be presented to the House.

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

The increase in this appropriation for 2019/20 is mainly due to a change in expected capital expenditure in accordance with the capital expenditure plan for the Office.

Capital Injections and Movements in Departmental Net Assets
Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives
Details of Net Asset Schedule 2018/19
Estimated Actual
$000
2019/20
Projected
$000
Explanation of Projected Movements in 2019/20
Opening Balance 9,455 9,455  
Capital Injections - -  
Capital Withdrawals - -  
Surplus to be Retained (Deficit Incurred) - -  
Other Movements - -  

Closing Balance

9,455 9,455