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2. Statement of Service Performance for the Year Ended 30 June 2008

Vote: Environment
Output Class: Bioethics Council

Through this output class, the Minister purchased the service to provide effective operation of the Bioethics Council, with a role to:

  • provide independent advice to the Government on biotechnological issues involving cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions

  • promote and participate in public dialogue on cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology, and enable public participation in the Council’s activities

  • provide public information on the cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions of biotechnology.

Resources employed

Actual
30/06/2007
$000		   Actual
30/06/2008
$000 		Main estimates
30/06/2008
$000 		Supplementary estimates
30/06/2008
$000
  Revenue:      
1,333 Crown 1,333 1,333 1,333
7 Departmental 8 6 6
1,340 Total revenue 1,341 1,339 1,339
1,306 Total expenses 1,312 1,339 1,339
34 Net surplus 29 0 0

Output: Provide administrative support to the Bioethics Council’s work plan, research capabilities and analysis. (Note this output was changed in agreement with the Minister to ‘Provide administrative support and research material for the Bioethics Council’).

Performance Measure 2007/08 Performance
Develop and implement a pilot programme for the secondary school biotechnology curriculum on the cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions of biotechnology, by December 2007. (Note this measure was changed in agreement with the Minister to ‘Provide relevant and timely briefing papers for the Bioethics Council’.)

Achieved – The Ministry prepared and delivered briefing papers to Council on the creation of embryos through In vitro fertilisation for use in research, the creation of embryos through somatic cell nuclear transfer for use in research, hybrid embryos, and the genetic modification of embryos for research.

The Ministry briefed the Associate Minister for the Environment (who has been delegated responsibility for the Bioethics Council) for her first meeting with the Chair of the Bioethics Council in March 2008.

The Ministry provided the Associate Minister with two briefings on the Bioethics Council’s pre-birth testing report.

The final report on ‘Who gets Born’ was delivered to the Associate Minister for the Environment in June 2008.
Maintain the Bioethics Council’s meeting schedule. Achieved – The Ministry maintained the Bioethics Council’s meeting schedule and set the schedule for 2008.

Output: Lead the whole of government approach by coordinating government agencies to contribute to the Council’s effectiveness.

Performance Measure 2007/08 Performance
Support the Ministers’ coordination group on bioethics by providing briefing material. Achieved – The Ministry worked with the steering committee of the Building Better Government Engagement project (led by the Office of Voluntary and Community sector located within the Ministry of Social Development).The Ministry developed international best practice in electronic governance with the State Services Commission e-government team.The Ministry outlined a process for cross-government responses to future Bioethics Council reports and confirmed the process with Chief Executives of the Ministries of Health, Research Science and Technology, and Te Puni Kōkiri.

Output: Collaborate with similar international groups to procure relevant research information to assist the Council.

Performance Measure 2007/08 Performance
Network with similar international groups.

Achieved – The Ministry delivered a master class on the results of the Bioethics Council’s public participation project on pre-birth testing in Slovenia, June 2008 at the “Building Citizen Centred Policies and Services”, – an international workshop held under the auspices of the World Bank, OECD, and Involve UK.

The Ministry met with the Sturm College of Law, University of Denver, to discuss the work of the Council and to explore possible linkages between the Council and researchers at the University of Denver. The Ministry met with the Social and Human Sciences office for the Pacific States United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to assist UNESCO to consider the implications of establishing a Pacific nations’ bioethics body.
Support visits by international experts. Achieved – The Ministry supported visits and met with a range of experts including the following: Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics; Science, Technology and Policy Research, Sussex University; Involve UK; The Democratic Engagement Electoral Policy Ministry of Justice UK; and ScienceWise UK.

Output: Raise awareness of the Bioethics Council’s work. (Note this output has been changed in agreement with the Minister to ‘Assist with the coordination of public dialogue and participation in Council activities’.)

Performance Measure 2007/08 Performance
Develop and implement deliberative processes for public engagement on pre-birth genetic testing and design web-based deliberative tools for the same project by 30 April 2008. Achieved – The Ministry organised and implemented 18 deliberative public events throughout New Zealand on pre-birth testing. ‘Who Gets Born? Pre-birth Testing Choicebook’, a discussion document which included information about pre-birth testing and four approaches to the way the public thinks about issues related to pre-birth testing was completed.The Ministry completed two online public discussions on the issue of pre-birth testing.
Scope topics for future public engagement by June 2008. Achieved – The work programme for 2008/09 has been agreed by the Bioethics Council, with nanotechnology being the major focus.

 

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