Vote Attorney-General - Supplementary Estimates 2012/13

Details of Projected Movements in Departmental
Net Assets#

Crown Law Office

Information Supporting the Supplementary Estimates Vote Attorney-General#

MINISTER(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROPRIATIONS: Attorney-General (M5)

ADMINISTERING DEPARTMENT: Crown Law Office

MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR CROWN LAW OFFICE: Attorney-General

Part 1 - Summary of the Vote#

Part 1.3 - Trends in the Vote

Summary of Financial Activity

Part 2 - Details and Expected Performance for Output Expenses#

Part 2.1 - Departmental Output Expenses#

Legal Advice and Representation (M5)

Scope of Appropriation

Expenses and Revenue

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

This appropriation increased by $1.059 million to $23.465 million as a result of the Crown Law restructuring project.

Memorandum Account

The newly established memorandum account reflects voluntary contributions received from government departments/Ministries to fund the activities of the Government Legal Network.

Supervision and Conduct of Crown Prosecutions and Appeals MCOA (M5)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Explanation for Use of Multi-Class Output Expense Appropriation#

These output classes cover all the activities associated with the prosecution of serious crime and the conduct of appeals arising from other Police and departmental prosecutions. They have been grouped under one appropriation because they contribute to the same outcome and use the same resources.

Expenses and Revenue#

Reasons for Change in Appropriation#

The appropriation increased by $4.460 million to $47.648 million for 2012/13. The increase relates to:

• carrying over the 2011/12 surplus of $2.562 million to 2012/13
• a transfer of $1 million from the Departmental Output Expense - The Exercise of Principal Law Officer Functions
• a transfer of $500,000 from the MCOA - Conduct of Criminal Appeals were made to reduce the cost pressure in the MCOA - Criminal Law Advice and Services, and
• an increase of $398,000 for the Crown Law restructuring project - funding for this initiative comes from the Justice Sector Fund Tagged Contingency.

The Exercise of Principal Law Officer Functions (M5)#

Scope of Appropriation#

Expenses and Revenue#

Reasons for Change in Appropriation#

This appropriation reduced by $593,000 to $2.291 million for 2012/13. The change relates to:

• an underspend of $250,000 was transferred from 2011/12 to 2012/13
• a transfer of $1 million to the MCOA - Criminal Advice and Services to manage internal cost pressures, and
• an increase of $117,000 for the Crown Law restructuring project - funding for this initiative comes from the Justice Sector Fund Tagged Contingency.

Memorandum Account#

The Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Act 2012 reintroduced the rank of Queen's Counsel. The memorandum account will provide full disclosure of the fees received and the costs incurred in the appointment process.

Part 6 - Details and Expected Results for Capital Expenditure#

Part 6.1 - Departmental Capital Expenditure#

Crown Law Office - Capital Expenditure PLA (M5)

Scope of Appropriation

Capital Expenditure

Reasons for Change in Appropriation

The increase in capital expenditure relates to the relocation of Crown Law's Wellington office, which includes:

• $944,000 on leasehold improvements
• $1.619 million on computer equipment, and
• $1.172 million on furniture and fittings.