Question 55

Does the Pre-Budget Statement present information on the government’s expenditure policies and priorities that will guide the development of detailed estimates for the upcoming budget? (The core information must include a discussion of expenditure policies and priorities and an estimate of total expenditures.)
 * a. Yes, information beyond the core elements is presented for the government’s expenditure policies and priorities.
 * b. Yes, the core information is presented for the government’s expenditure policies and priorities.
 * c. Yes, information is presented, but it excludes some core elements.
 * d. No, information related to the government’s expenditure policies and priorities is not presented.
 * e. Not applicable/other (please comment).

OBS Guidelines
Question 55 focuses on the government’s expenditure policies and priorities in the Pre-Budget Statement, asking whether “core” information related to these policies is presented. These core components include:
 * a discussion of expenditure policies and priorities; and
 * an estimate of total expenditures.

Although a Pre-Budget Statement is unlikely to include detailed programmatic proposals (such detailed information is typically only presented in the budget itself), it should include a discussion of broad policy priorities and a projection of at least total expenditures associated with these policies for the budget year. The Pre-Budget Statement can include some detail, for instance, estimates provided by any of the three expenditure classifications — by administrative, economic, and functional classifications.

To answer “a,” the Pre-Budget Statement must present for the upcoming budget year all of the core information related to the government’s expenditure policies and priorities as well as some additional information beyond the core elements. To answer “b,” the Pre-Budget Statement must present all of the core components noted above for the upcoming budget year. Answer “b” is also accepted if one of the core elements is not presented but additional information beyond the core elements is presented. A “c” answer applies if some information related to the government’s expenditure policies and priorities is presented, but some of the core pieces of information are not included. Answer “d” applies if no information on the government’s expenditure policies and priorities is presented.