Vote Prime Minister and Cabinet

MINISTER(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROPRIATIONS: Prime Minister (M52)

ADMINISTERING DEPARTMENT: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR DEPARTMENT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET: Prime Minister

Overview of the Vote

The Prime Minister is responsible for appropriations in the Vote: Prime Minister and Cabinet for the 2011/12 financial year covering the following:

• a total of $7.170 million (34.1% of the Vote) on free and frank advice on policy issues; services to facilitate inter-departmental coordination of policy development and leadership of a more collective approach to performance across the state sector. From the Cabinet Office, advice on constitutional policy and procedural issues for the Governor-General, and the Prime Minister and Cabinet; coordination of the Government's legislation programme; secretariat services to Cabinet, Cabinet committees and the Executive Council; and administration of the New Zealand Royal Honours system
• a total of $585,000 (2.8% of the Vote) on support services to the Governor-General and maintenance of the residences. This represents two month expenditure and is a consequence of the passing of the Governor-General Act 2010
• a total of under $2.930 million (14.0% of the Vote) on support services to the Governor-General and maintenance of the official residences
• a total of under $5.600 million (26.7% of the Vote) for the leadership, advice, coordination around national security matters, leading collaboration within the New Zealand intelligence community and providing assessments to support national security
• a total of $407,000 (1.9%) for establishing and operating the Science Advisory Committee
• a total of $150,000 (0.7% of the Vote) on Government House capital investment
• a total of over $1.610 million (7.7% of the Vote) under permanent legislative authority (Governor-General Act 2010) for payments for the salary, allowance, programme and travel expenses outside New Zealand of the Governor-General
• a total of over $300,000 (1.4% of the Vote) on departmental capital expenditure
• a total of $74,000 (0.4% of the Vote) under permanent legislative authority (NZSIS Amendment (No. 2) Act 1999) for payments to the Commissioner of Security Warrants
• a total of over $1.960 million (9.3% of the Vote) for depreciation expenses on Crown assets (Government Houses and their contents)
• a total of $218,000 (1.0% of the Vote) for an ex gratia payment to the University of Auckland to support the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor's own specialised research programme.

Details of these appropriations are set out in Parts 2-6 for Vote Prime Minister and Cabinet in the Information Supporting the Estimates of Appropriations.