Chairperson, hon members, we feel very much honoured to present this report to you. The Reports of the Joint Budget Committee on the Departmental Expenditure for the Second and Third Quarters of 2005-06 financial year ended in March 2006 and the Annual Report of the Joint Budget Committee were published in the ATCs of 18 April 2006.
These reports are submitted to Parliament in line with the terms of reference of the Joint Budget Committee. In terms of this mandate, the Joint Budget Committee is required to monitor, on a regular basis, the actual monthly revenue and expenditure incurred by national departments. The purpose of this exercise is to ascertain whether the patterns of spending are consistent with the budget focus of these departments.
In as far as the annual report is concerned, we would like to report to this House that our work is in progress and I wish to thank the esteemed members of the committee, my forerunners in the committee, that is, the hon Mr Ralane and the hon Mr Nene who is in the National Assembly as well as the present co-chairperson, Ms Louisa Mabe - also in the National Assembly.
We also thank you very much, hon members on all our sister committees, for your prompt co-operation and understanding. On behalf of the Joint Budget Committee, I appeal to this hon House to consider this report positively. Thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.