13176 (2024). Hon Barbara Edmonds to the Minister of Finance

13176 (2024). Hon Barbara Edmonds to the Minister of Finance: Why was the Minister seeking Cabinets approval for her proposed savings and performance plans months before they are delivered?

Hon Nicola Willis: • The Government established a multi-year Fiscal Sustainability Programme in December 2023 to generate headroom, tighten fiscal discipline, and ensure collective ownership and accountability for the fiscal position (CAB-23-MIN-0490). The first phase of the programme had a focus on freeing up headroom for Budget 2024, supported by the Budget 2024 Initial Baseline Exercise. Phase two of the programme will commence after Budget 2024, focusing on driving greater value and results from public expenditure and securing a sustainable fiscal outlook. Performance Plans (previously Savings and Performance Plans) are one of the phase two activities. • December 2023 Cabinet decisions on Performance Plans were sought to enable the plans to be signalled through guidance for Budget 2024. The intent was to ensure that agencies would undertake the Budget 2024 Initial Baseline Exercise with a view to future requirements, specifically Performance Plans. • My officials will shortly provide me with detailed advice on Performance Plans, including delivery timeframes.