Hon Chairperson, hon members, the Appropriation Bill was tabled in Parliament at the time of the Budget on 22 February this year. It was officially referred to the committee for consideration and reporting on 12 June. The Bill provides for the appropriation of money from the National Revenue Fund in terms of section 213 of the Constitution and section 15 of the Public Finance Management Act.
The Appropriation Bill for the year 2012, as has been noted from the programmes voted, supports government's objectives of accelerating the pace of economic expansion and job creation, ensuring that the benefits of growth are shared more equitably and that service delivery is improved. Particular focus is given to shifting resources from administrative components and nonessential goods and services to the frontline services. This is in sharp contrast to what has been happening this morning. On the one hand, we hear people supporting the budget and, on the other hand, we hear people rejecting the programmes that are supposed to be funded through those budgets that they have supported. We have been hearing people who live in glass houses saying, "No, we should not build more houses for those living in shacks." We have heard people saying, "Don't built roads," simply because they are sitting comfortably with tarred roads. We have heard people this morning saying, "Don't improve the lives of the poor with the funds that are available," simply because they are comfortable where they live.
As the ANC, we cannot sit with folded arms when our people continue to struggle. The money that is being generated and that is in the National Revenue Fund will be allocated to, and appropriated by, the programmes, as have been voted. We cannot but do what we promised our people during the election period.
The budgets make available R83 million for new allocations to the programmes over the 2012 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period. This includes baseline reductions amounting to R27 billion, made up of R9,2 million or 0,4% of a general budget baseline reduction of provincial and national departments and entities and R17,8 billion identified through a national budget baseline reprioritisation effort.
Hon members, as you might have noted during debates on various Budget Votes, all spending plans focus on infrastructure development, job creation, economic support and local government service delivery enhancement. These represent a shift from social spending to increased infrastructure development, employment and economic growth. It becomes important that Parliament hold every department accountable in terms of the implementation of all plans as approved this morning. Without any failure or deviation, we should not only talk tough on wrongdoing, but make sure that there is a consequence for every transgression.
The Select Committee on Appropriations deliberated on the Appropriation Bill, B3 of 2012, and recommends that it be adopted without amendments. I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.