Madam Chair, hon Minister, hon members of this Council, the Adjustments Appropriation Bill before this Council allows the Minister of Finance, in view of changed circumstances, to authorise certain expenditure. These expenditures are now tabled for appropriation.
A total amount of R111 million is appropriated in terms of the Act before us. However, an amount of R50 million was allocated to the National Skills Fund, which is a column 2 item of the schedule to the Second Adjustments Appropriation Act of 1999.
This allocation is the result of resolutions taken by the Presidential Jobs Summit of October 1998. At the Jobs Summit it was agreed that a Social Plan Technical Support Facility would be established under the auspices of the Social Plan and Productivity Advisory Council of the National Productivity Institute.
The Social Plan Technical Support Facility is required to provide technical assistance to Future Forums established to promote ongoing discussions between worker representatives and employers about the future of their industrial sectors and enterprises. A Future Forum is a partnership between the workers, their representatives and management, and it is established to facilitate problems and challenges for potential solutions to the problems facing their environment. The Social Plan Technical Support Facility provides assistance and support. It further prevents job losses when employment declines. It is also expected to support Future Forums on a partially subsidised basis.
In addition, Cabinet approved that savings from the National Skills Fund could be made available for the Social Plan Technical Support Facility of the National Productivity Institute. However, in January 2000 the Tender Board approved that only the National Productivity Institute could render the service to the department. Once more it proves that our Government is on course, that it now responds to the social plan that was adopted by all social partners during the Jobs Summit as a programme of intervention.
Finally, the ANC supports the Bill before this Council. [Applause.]
Mevrou die Voorsitter, minister Manuel en lede, die redes vir hierdie wetsontwerp is suiwer tegnies van aard, en is daarop gerig om aangesuiwerde bedrae vir die behoeftes van die staat te bewillig ten opsigte van die boekjaar wat reeds op 31 Maart 2000 geindig het.
Kragtens artikel 7(1) van die Skatkiswet, Wet 66 van 1975, word die Minister van Finansies gemagtig om in sekere omstandighede gelde in die Nasionale Inkomstefonds aan te wend. Artikel 7(2) van die Skatkiswet van 1975 bepaal dat stappe nie later nie as die daaropvolgende sitting van die Parlement gedoen moet word om dan enige bedrae wat kragtens artikel 7(1) aangewend is, te bewillig. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Dr E A CONROY: Madam Chairperson, Minister Manuel and members, the reasons for this Bill are purely technical in nature and are aimed at voting adjusted amounts for the needs of the state with regard to the financial year which already ended on 31 March 2000.
In terms of section 7(1) of the Exchequer Act, Act 66 of 1975, the Minister of Finance is authorised to utilise money in the National Revenue Fund under certain conditions. Section 7(2) of the Exchequer Act of 1975 stipulates that steps must be taken not later than the following sitting of Parliament to vote any amounts utilised in terms of section 7(1).]
After tabling the adjustments estimates for 1999-2000 in October 1999 - in other words, exactly one year ago - circumstances now require the Minister of Finance to authorise certain spending which is now being tabled for appropriation. I will be referring to only one of these circumstances and that is the appropriation of adjusted amounts as far as the Department of Justice and, more specifically, the Legal Aid Board is concerned.
An amount of R107 million was included in the adjustments estimate in respect of the year 1999-2000 for the Legal Aid Board for the payment of arrear amounts owed to legal practitioners. The amount was, however, not shown in the adjustments estimate as a column 2 item, and the Minister of Finance authorised the augmentation of the column 2 item by shifting funds from column 1 of the Second Adjustments Appropriation Act of 1999 to column 2, in terms of section 7(1) of the Exchequer Act of 1975.
This Bill is therefore, as I have already mentioned, and as is clear from the facts before us, basically of a technical nature.
Volgens inligting wat van die Regshulpraad bekom is, is die R107 miljoen reeds in Desember 1999 deur hom aangewend om 'n deel van die opgehoopte agterstallige bedrae te vereffen wat aan regspraktisyns verskuldig was. Dit mag dan ook interessantheidshalwe aan die agbare Huis genoem word dat daar in die tydperk van 1 Januarie tot 30 September 2000 reeds bykans 133 800 betalings ter waarde van meer as R204 miljoen aan regspraktisyns gedoen is. Aangesien hierdie 'n tegniese regstelling is en dit nodig is dat die finansile huishouding van die Departement van Justisie in orde kom, steun die Nuwe NP hierdie wetsontwerp. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[According to information received from the Legal Aid Board, the R107 million had already been utilised by it in December 1999 to pay a portion of the accumulated amounts in arrears owed to legal practitioners. It might also be mentioned for the interest of the honourable House that in the period from 1 January to 30 September 2000 approximately 133 800 payments totalling more than R204 million were made to legal practitioners. Due to the fact that this is a technical correction and it is necessary for the financial housekeeping of the Department of Justice to be in order, the New NP supports this Bill.]
Chairperson, hon Minister, colleagues, the Adjustments Appropriation Bill before this House is a technical financial Bill which allows the Minister of Finance, in view of changed circumstances, to authorise certain expenditures. These expenditures are now tabled for appropriation.
A total amount of R111 million is appropriated in terms of the Bill before us. However, an amount of R206 000 represents a transfer from column 1 to column 2 of the Schedule to the Second Adjustments Appropriation Act of 1999. This transfer occurred as a result of our co-operation with Germany in hosting regional conferences in preparation for the Urban 21 Conference. Although the City Council of Pretoria indicated that they would make a contribution, the Department of Housing undertook the responsibility of co- hosting the Urban 21 global conference.
Urban 21 is aimed at all experts who are involved in the development of towns and cities and who support the improvement of living and environmental conditions in urban areas. Urban 21 is dedicated to the problems which the growth of the cities generates in developing and industrialised countries. Excessive consumption of resources and social and cultural deprivation in cities represent global problems to which solutions have to be found.
Moreover, cities do not only fulfil the basic needs of their citizens, which are essential for their existence, but also reflect history and cultural traditions in their buildings, streets and squares. Since there is no single, monolithic solution to the problem of cities, our participation in this global conference on sustainable urban development is necessary.
The amount appropriated towards our participation is a transfer item from column 1 to column 2 and therefore does not affect our Budget deficit targets and macroeconomic guidelines. The ANC supports the Bill. [Applause.]
Order! I see that Mr Marais has spoken twice in the House this morning, according to the screens. [Laughter.]
Chairperson, hon members, because the Bill is technical and supported by all parties, I would like to express sincere appreciation for the support. In fact, it is just a technical matter that moves money between columns. It is, essentially, about ensuring that the accounting to Parliament is proper and that history will reflect how the money was spent. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Votes Nos 17, 20 and 21 agreed to. Schedule agreed to.
Bill agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.