Guide to Reading Information Supporting the Estimates

The Information Supporting the Estimates for each of the 10 sectors comprises five components, each of which is briefly described, below.

Sector Overview

The first component of the Information Supporting the Estimates may include a statement, agreed by all Ministers responsible for appropriations in Votes included in the sector, that presents an overview of the sector and a high-level summary of the Government's expectations and priorities. The Overview also includes Ministerial and Chief Executive Statements of Responsibility for the information provided on future operating intentions of departments in the sector.

Performance Information for Appropriations in Each Vote

The second component of the Information Supporting the Estimates presents performance information relating to each appropriation, ordered by Vote and appropriation type.

The title page for each Vote specifies the Minister(s) responsible for existing and proposed appropriations in the Vote, the administering department for the Vote, and the Responsible Minister for that department. The performance information meets the requirements of sections 15 and 41(1)(e) of the PFA and contains up to six parts. If particular information is not applicable to a Vote or a specific appropriation or type, or is otherwise unavailable, the relevant heading is not included.

Part 1 - Summary of the Vote

The Summary of the Vote comprises:

• Part 1.1 - Overview of the Vote - A plain-language summary of the focus of the appropriations through a brief explanation of the Vote. The Overview also appears at the start of the Vote in the Estimates.
• Part 1.2 - High-Level Objectives of the Vote - The objectives for the Vote presented through links and relationships between the appropriations and high-level priorities and outcomes to which they contribute. Where applicable, priorities and outcomes are drawn from the Government's themes and sub-themes, and published strategy documents. Links may also be made to specific Government objectives.
• Part 1.3 - Trends in the Vote - A presentation of actual and estimated trends in the Vote, comprising:
  • Summary of Financial Activity - A table showing financial information over the preceding five years (actual, budgeted or estimated actual), the current (Budget) year and the following three years (estimated) for types of appropriations and Crown revenue and capital receipts.
  • Budget Policy Initiatives - A table showing how new initiatives (and associated expenses or capital expenditure) are allocated to appropriations in the Vote. References are included where appropriations in other Votes are affected by the same initiative.
  • Analysis of Significant Trends - High-level analysis of appropriations and of Crown revenue and capital receipts by type over the nine financial years covered by the Summary of Financial Activity table, with graphical presentations and explanations of significant changes.
• Part 1.4 - Reconciliation of Changes in Appropriation Structure - A table providing a reconciliation and explanation of changes in the structure or classification of appropriations made in the Budget year. These changes are restated for the previous financial year to facilitate comparison.

Part 2 - Details and Expected Performance for Output Expenses

This Part provides further detail about appropriations and expected performance for output expenses.

• Part 2.1 - Departmental Output Expenses - Intended impacts, outcomes or objectives are presented for departmental output expense appropriations in the Vote. This is followed by information on each appropriation, including its scope, a table showing expenses and revenue (distinguishing between revenue from the Crown and others), a statement of reasons for change in the appropriation (if material), and tables detailing performance measures and standards for significant aspects of expected output performance, any conditions on use of the appropriation, any memorandum accounts (which record accumulated surpluses and deficits incurred in the provision of outputs on a full cost-recovery basis), and any current and past policy initiatives affecting the appropriation.

Information on impacts and outcomes or objectives to which the outputs contribute is provided where the relationships are direct or involve a small number of output expenses. Where the relationships are more complex, this information will be included in high-level objectives of the Vote outlined in Part 1.2. Conditions of use include administrative criteria and processes contained in legislation, regulations and Government decisions, which may be referenced in scope statements or performance measures. The current and past policy initiatives table provides a five-year history of announced initiatives that impact on the Budget year, the preceding year and the following three years.

For MCOAs, an explanation is provided as to why the classes of outputs have been grouped under a single appropriation, and the scope statement, expenses and revenue, and performance information is presented for each output class. Data provided for MYAs enables the original appropriation to be reconciled to the adjusted level if changes have been approved or are proposed, and the balance remaining to be derived taking account of actual or estimated actual expenses incurred to date.

The appropriation scope, expenses and revenue, and output performance measures and standards match information required to be included in a department's Statement of Forecast Service Performance with respect to departmental output expense appropriations used by the department.

• Part 2.2 - Non-Departmental Output Expenses - This sub-part contains comparable information to that presented in Part 2.1 on departmental output expense appropriations. The main differences are that details of third parties' other revenue is not relevant and a summary of service providers is included.

The service providers table shows Crown entities and non-governmental organisations providing outputs funded through the Vote, and (where applicable) the mechanism for reporting actual performance to Parliament and the expiry of the Government's resource commitment. The reporting mechanisms are typically an entity's annual report or a report by the responsible Minister required by section 32A of the PFA. Where the provider is a Crown entity that is required to produce a Statement of Intent, its annual report may contain more detailed performance information at the output class or output level. ‘Section 32A’ reports include a statement of service performance in relation to the appropriation.

Part 3 - Details for Benefits and Other Unrequited Expenses

Part 3 provides performance information about appropriations for benefits and other unrequited expenses incurred by the Crown. No departmental transactions arise under this appropriation type.

• Part 3.2 - Non-Departmental Benefits and Other Unrequited Expenses - Information on each appropriation includes impacts and outcomes intended to be achieved, a scope statement, expense components, reasons for material changes, any conditions of use, and details of any current and past policy initiatives over the five years up to and including the Budget year.