Statement of Service Performance for the year ended 30 June 2008 - Output Class 3: Intelligence assessments on developments overseas

Description

This class output involves:

• providing information and reports on events and trends overseas affecting New Zealand's interests
• collecting, collating, evaluating, and analysing information on topics likely to affect New Zealand's foreign relations and external interests
• preparing intelligence assessments and reports on political, economic, scientific, environmental, strategic, and biographic subjects as required.

The use of effective planning and coordination processes in government can manage the risks of certain adverse events occurring, and can lessen their effect if they do occur. The department is responsible for assessing, monitoring and responding to threats of any kind in a timely and structured way.

Output Class 3: Financial Performance

30.06.07		30.06.08	30.06.08
Actual $000		Actual $000	Main Estimates $000	Supplementary Estimates $000
3,168	Revenue - Crown	3,339	3,339	3,339
3,162	Expenditure	3,339	3,339	3,339
6	Surplus	-	-	-

Output Class 3 Service Performance: External Assessments Bureau (EAB)

Objective: To ensure the effective provision of high-quality, accurate and succinct assessments of overseas developments that are of policy relevance to New Zealand.

Performance

There were no instances of significant factual errors being reported in papers that had already been issued.

In a few instances, readers (particularly in New Zealand diplomatic missions overseas) provided additional information, insights and interpretations subsequent to the publication of papers, especially for biographic reports. (EAB generally seeks such input before publication as part of its established process of consultation to improve the quality of its assessments, and has strengthened this consultation process during the past year.)

Limits on the length of papers continued to be enforced strictly.

A high priority was given to work directly related to topics of immediate concern to policy makers, but EAB also sought this year to respond to feedback from readers who asked for more reporting on longer-term “cross-cutting” issues. EAB seeks to provide insights on such issues as a way of sketching a broad context for the external developments and events that bear on New Zealand's interests internationally.

During the reporting period:

• the National Assessments Committee (NAC) approved 74 (2006/07: 71) papers (unusually, EAB was not the sole author of reports commissioned by the NAC this year; the New Zealand Defence Force and the Government Communications Security Bureau each prepared one report for NAC)
• 575 (536) biographical reports were prepared
• 201 (191) other assessments and reports were prepared, including 93 (92) executive intelligence summaries.

The moderate upturn in reporting volume was probably the consequence of the gradual recovery of EAB's capability, following a period of unusually high turbulence in staffing in 2006 and 2007. The new staff who were recruited over the past two years are rapidly gaining experience and competence, and the outlook is for stability in staffing and a further consolidation in capability in the year ahead.

Biographic reports were delivered to primary customers before the visits and conferences to which the reports related.

Relevant EAB reports were available at the start of Watch Group (close situation monitoring) meetings.

A review of the NAC has resulted in the establishment of a regular meeting, as part of the NAC schedule, to review the quality of the material it has seen and to judge whether it is meeting stakeholder requirements effectively. Such meetings are chaired by an external independent expert.

Objective: To ensure that the Prime Minister, other senior ministers, and officials are satisfied with the assessments and reports provided.

Performance

Assessments reflected national priorities, and those done in response to specific tasking addressed the topics specified by those who requested them. Positive feedback was received from the Prime Minister and stakeholders.

At least 90 per cent of assessments submitted to the NAC required no more than minor revision. (This performance indicator remains unchanged from last year.)

EAB assessments and reports

	2008	2007	2006	2005
National Assessments Committee reports	74	71	77	80
Biographical reports	575	536	541	445
Other reports and assessments	108	99	136	122
Executive intelligence summaries	93	92	93	90