Workshop on Committee’s Terms of Reference

Meeting report

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
21 February 2005
WORKSHOP ON COMMITTEE’S TERMS OF REFERENCE

Chairpersons: Mr N Nene (ANC) and Mr B Mkhaliphi (ANC, Mpumalanga)

Documents handed out
Presentation on Role and Responsibilities of the Joint Budget Committee
Concept Paper: Joint Budget Committee [Draft 6 June 2003, drafted by A Fölscher]
 
SUMMARY
The Committee reviewed the June 2003 concept document that outlined the framework and processes of the Joint Budget Committee according to the Terms of Reference of the previous parliamentary term. One of the fundamental changes to the Terms of Reference between the two parliaments, is that the new Terms of References no longer exclude the Committee from looking at fiscal policy and at revenue issues (as the previous one did).

The old Terms of Reference were as follows

 

i.                     Make proposals regarding the processes Parliament should follow with regard to its role in developing budgets in line with constitutional requirements;

ii.                   Consider the allocations proposed in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Appropriation Bill, conduct hearings and report to Parliament on these matters;

iii.                  Consider the Medium Term Budget Statement (MTBPS) and report on it;

iv.                 Monitor monthly published actual revenue and expenditure per department against budget projections and report quarterly to Parliament.

 

This workshop was held for the new committee to interpret the new Terms of Reference. The concept document will change along the lines discussed at this workshop, and in line with the new Terms of Reference [which will be provided shortly].