Hon House Chair, hon Ministers and hon members, in the implementation of the Financial Management of Parliament Act, Act 10 of 2009, it has become apparent to the presiding officers, parliamentarians, Oversight Authority and Speakers' Forum that Parliament is experiencing specific technical challenges with regard to the implementation of this Act. Consequently, this House instructed our committee, that is, the Standing Committee on Finance, to review the Act with a view to introducing amending legislation if necessary.
The resolution of the House required the committee, firstly, to evaluate the application of the legislation, including the provisions relating to the authority of provinces to enact financial management legislation, and the timeframes associated with various reporting mechanisms. Secondly, the committee was required to take account of the work done by the Speakers' Forum. Thirdly, the committee was to report to the National Assembly by 22 November 2012.
The committee began its work and in particular took a brief from Parliament's legal advisers. Out of these discussions the aligning of the provision in section 4 of the Act, which contemplates the oversight mechanism, to the government structures existing in Parliament is necessary. The committee was also advised that the procedures dealing with unspent funds of Parliament and the timeframes in respect of the submission of the annual report, including the audited financial statement, may require a review.
The committee unanimously resolved to convene a workshop in the first term of 2013 to receive and discuss inputs from all stakeholders, including the executive authority of Parliament, the Minister of Finance, speakers of provincial legislatures, members of executive councils responsible for finance in provinces, the Secretary to Parliament, the secretaries of provincial legislatures, and other officials concerned. On behalf of the Standing Committee on Finance, I submit this report for consideration. I thank you.
There was no debate.
House Chair, I move:
That the report be adopted.
Motion agreed to. Report accordingly adopted.