When a Minister wishes to prepare a Cabinet submission, the Cabinet Liaison Officer should first notify the Cabinet Office of the subject and expected submission date, as well as any reasons for urgent consideration. This will assist the Cabinet Office in preparing a Forward Program of Cabinet Business for consideration by the Prime Minister to assist in planning future Cabinet meetings. The program will be based on the Government’s Medium Term Agenda and other priorities, where necessary highlighting the major policy and legislative initiatives that will be needed if the Government is to fulfil its agenda.

The Forward Program is essentially a rolling 12-month calendar of Cabinet meetings, showing when key policy and legislative proposals will be considered. The first three months are detailed, with an outline of the business for the remaining nine months. The program will incorporate the process for Cabinet consideration of budget proposals and include the deadlines for finalization of the Government’s legislation program for each sitting of the Parliament.

Individual Ministers are required to inform the Secretary to the Cabinet in advance of the dates on which they plan to submit specific proposals. They are then assigned agenda ‘slots’ for specific Cabinet meetings, depending on the priority of the proposal within the Government’s overall policy agenda.

The Forward Program will be updated every three months following a request to all Ministries for information on forthcoming submissions.

To ensure Ministers are committed to the process, the draft Forward Program will be discussed and finalized by the Cabinet. Once approved, changes to the Program during the first three months will require the Prime Minister’s authorization, based on a recommendation by the Secretary to the Cabinet.

The latest version of the program is available to Cabinet members from the Cabinet Office through their Cabinet Liaison Officers.

The box below summarizes the Forward Program steps.
The Forward Program procedure enables better-informed decision-making by creating more time and space for in-depth consideration of policy proposals. It also provides Cabinet with visibility of its future work program and the means to exercise better control and oversight, rather than simply reacting to proposals submitted by Ministries. Where possible the Cabinet Office will propose consideration of related proposals at the same meeting, for example proposals from different Ministries affecting the same sector or addressing broad strategic priorities. This helps the Cabinet to consider proposals more efficiently and strategically.