Tuesday: Scrutiny begins

The House covers the beginning of Scrutiny Week - when Parliament makes the Government really work to get its budget approved.

It's Scrutiny Week at Parliament - a week when the House doesn't meet, and instead the twelve subject Select Committees spend the week grilling government ministers about their budget plans.

You may have thought the budget was all sewn up, but that's far from true. So far, the Government has proposed a budget, and Parliament is considering it, before eventually (presumably), approving, it later this year.

Parliament's budget consideration is pretty involved, but as it involves billions of dollars that is understandable.

This week - Scrutiny Week - is when the ministers and their various entity bosses come to Parliament and answer questions about it. Because, when it comes down to it - Parliament is the Government's boss.

RNZ's The House - journalism focussed on parliamentary legislation, issues and insights - is made with funding from Parliament's Office of the Clerk.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details