Treasury Department: workshop

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
22 OCTOBER 2004
TREASURY DEPARTMENT: WORKSHOP

Chairpersons: Mr Nhanhla (NA) and Mr B Mkhaliphi (NCOP)

Documents handed out:
Medium Term Budget Policy Statement: 2004
Committee Programme for MTBPS Workshop

SUMMARY
The National Treasury conducted a workshop on the Medium-term Budget Policy statement, summarising the budget processes for 2004.

MINUTES
Mr Neil Cole, Director of Budget Reform for National Treasury, stated that any detailed questions would have to wait for the Minister of Finance who had been expected to attend. He presented the 2004 Medium-term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) chapter by chapter, and summarised the current budget process.

Finally, the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF), macro-economic developments and fiscal policy were presented as the context that framed the 2004 Policy Statement. Improved transparency in budget processes would strengthen Department oversight and budget preparation.

DISCUSSION
The Committee was concerned about the Department's fund allocation to other departments and municipalities.

Mr Cole stated that guidelines were distributed every April on how departments should be paid. The budget process allowed for new policies within departments. Departments were not told the amount to request in their budget proposal, but their requests were dealt with according to need priorities. Departments were encouraged to work with each other because their work was inter-related. The Budget Council met three to four times a year, and local governments were also brought into this process.

The meeting was adjourned!