11411 (2024). Hon Barbara Edmonds to the Minister of Finance

11411 (2024). Hon Barbara Edmonds to the Minister of Finance: Does she believe frontline services are “poor performing spending areas”?

Hon Nicola Willis: The Member’s question appears to refer to the aim of the Budget 2024 Baseline Savings Exercise as to identify “poor performing spending areas” (CAB-23-SUB-0491 refers). As set in response to Written Question 11412 (2024), Cabinet agreed – in the same paper – that that savings proposals submitted for this exercise should be focused on “low value programmes, programmes that do not align with Government priorities, and reducing non-essential back-office functions (including contractor and consultant spending)”.