Service Performance: Output Class 9- Policy Advice and Development

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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 2006

30/06/05
Actual
($000)

 

30/06/06
Actual
($000)

Main
Estimates
($000)

Supp.
Estimates*
($000)

 

REVENUE

 

 

 

5,309

Crown

 5,403

5,309

5,470

0

Other

0

0

0

5,309

Total Revenue

 5,403

5,309

5,470

4,938

Total Expenses

 5,122

5,309

5,470

371

Net Surplus

 281

0

0


*These figures also include the following adjustment under Section 26A of the Public Finance Act 1989:

Supp.
Estimates
($000)

Section 26A
Transfer
($000)

Final
Appropriation
($000)

 

5,403

 67

5,470


OUTPUT 9.1 Policy Advice and Development Services

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

2004/05

Performance Standard 2005/06

Performance Measure

Actual

Actual

Forecast

Variance

Quantity

 

 

 

 

Advice will be provided according to a work programme agreed with the Minister of Corrections:

100%

100%

100%

0%

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%

0%

Timeliness

 

 

 

 

Policy advice purchased will be delivered within the specific reporting deadlines agreed with the Minister of Corrections:

100%

100%

100%

0%


Comment

All the above targets were met; however, the actual volume of work greatly exceeded expectations due to new major projects such as Effective Interventions and the Prisoner Employment Strategy.

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.

2004/05

Performance Standard 2005/06

Performance Measure

Actual

Actual

Forecast

Variance

Quantity

 

 

 

 

The number of responses to be prepared to Ministerial correspondence is estimated to be:

481

432

600

(168)

The number of responses to Parliamentary questions is estimated to be:

450

527

700

(173)

Quality

 

 

 

 

The percentage of replies returned for redrafting not to exceed:

15%

12%

10%

2%

All responses signed out by either a general manager or, in his or her absence, an appropriate manager to be:

100%

 100%

100%

0%

Timeliness

 

 

 

 

The percentage of responses to Ministerial correspondence completed within the timeframes agreed with the Minister’s Office to be no less than:

67%

 54%

90%

36%

The percentage of responses to Parliamentary questions completed within the timeframes set by the Minister’s office to be no less than:

84%

 52%

100%

48%


Comment

The volume of Ministerial correspondence was below forecast for the year, however a purely quantitative assessment does not properly reflect the time and resources required to respond to increasingly complex Ministerial correspondence, in particular Official Information Act requests.

The volume of Parliamentary Questions was also slightly below forecast, due to the cessation of Parliamentary Questions during the election period.

While the percentage of items returned for re-write, and the time taken to prepare responses to Ministerial correspondence and Parliamentary Questions was below target, most deadlines were missed by only a short period. Re-writes, due to complexity of the requests responded to, lead to lateness, and closer monitoring of the reasons for re-writes continues.

The Department is looking at ways to improve its handling of all correspondence, including Ministerial correspondence and Parliamentary Questions.

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.

2004/05

Performance Standard 2005/06

Performance Measure

Actual

Actual

Forecast

Variance

Quantity

 

 

 

 

The percentage of research and evaluation delivered to agreed project milestones:

88%

100%

100%

0%

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%

0%


Comment

The full year results were in line with expectations.