48  Annual Report Cost The final measure of the Commission’s performance is the requirement to complete projects within the budgeted cost. The budgeted expenditure of $489,325 as stated in the prospective financial statements within the Commission’s 2008 2011 Statement of Intent was well above the actual project expenditure of $343,848 at year end. The reason for the variance arises from the early closure of one project (review of prerogative writs), reduced publication costs from a move to online publication of issues papers, a reduction in the numbers of hard copy printed, and publication costs not incurred in the financial year in review. (See timeline table on previous page.) Executive committees Over the past three years, the Commission has had a developing role in providing advice to Ministers and government agencies on the design, and adherence to legal principles, of legislation being prepared for and presented to the House. This role is primarily performed through the support that the Commission provides to the Legislation Design Committee and the Legislation Advisory Committee. Legislation Design Committee (LDC) Under Cabinet directive, the LDC provides departments with high level advice on the architecture of legislation referred by the department or the Cabinet Office. The primary reason for referral is to ensure advice is given early on the framework of new legislation, which in turn assists compliance with the LAC Guidelines. LAC receives legislative proposals too late to be effective in advising on the architecture of legislation. In the first half of the financial year LDC work was put on hold in light of the upcoming election and uncertainty as to whether particular proposals would proceed with the new Government. Subsequent to the election the LDC has met with Ministry of Economic Development officials and Parliamentary Counsel to consider the Securities Disclosure and Financial Advisers Amendment Bill, draft Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Bill. Law Commissioners George Tanner QC and John Burrows QC were responsible for the Commission’s advisory contribution to the LDC in relation to both these Bill Legislation Advisory Committee (LAC) The Commission writes reports for the LAC as a starting point for the Committee to consider all Government bills. Each report is an analysis of the bill against the LAC Guidelines for best legislative practice, using a standard template.