The chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says the ministry is not under any instructions from the Government to cut its budget by $40 million.
John Allen was questioned by Labour's foreign affairs spokesperson Phil Goff about the $40 million in savings when the ministry appeared before Parliament's foreign affairs and trade select committee.
But Mr Allen says the Government has not set that target.
Instead, he says it was a target set by the senior management team within the ministry.
