National
Assembly for Wales
Business Committee
March 2018
Amending Standing Orders: Standing Order 20 – Statement on
the Draft Budget Proposals
Purpose
1.
In accordance with Standing Order 11.7(iv), the Business Committee
is responsible for making recommendations on the general practice
and procedures of the Assembly, including any proposals for the
re-making or revision of Standing Orders.
2.
The report recommends an amendment to Standing Order 20 to
formalise a procedure for the statement on the Government’s
Draft Budget to be debated. Such a statement may be made in plenary
as soon as possible after the outline budget proposals are laid, in
accordance with Standing Order 20.8. The change agreed by Business
Committee is found in Annex A, and the proposal for new Standing
Orders is at Annex B.
Background
3.
On 13 February 2018, Business Managers considered a paper on the
Welsh Government’s Legislative Programme and Statement on the
Draft Budget, and agreed a proposed amendment to Standing Order 20
to formalise a procedure trialled on 3 October 2016, for a debate
on the statement introducing the Government’s draft budget
proposals.
4.
The format allows for a statement to be made and debated
immediately. It allows for longer contributions from other Members
than was previously been the case, and there remains an opportunity
for a Plenary vote on the draft budget in Plenary after committee
scrutiny is completed.
5.
When reviewing Plenary reforms, Business Managers agreed that they
wished to amend Standing Order 20 so that this format can be
followed annually.
Action
6.
TheBusiness
Committee formally agreed the change to Standing Order 20 on 6
March 2018 and the Assembly is invited to approve the proposal at
Annex B.
Annex B
STANDING ORDER 20 - Finance Procedures
Draft Budget Proposals
20.7 In accordance with Standing Order 20.2 (or
Standing Order
20.6), a Welsh Minister must lay before the Assembly outline
budget proposals setting out financing plans, and the amounts
of resources and cash which the government proposes to use for the
following financial year and provisional amounts for the subsequent
two years or for such other period as the
Minister considers
appropriate.
20.7A At the same time as a Welsh Minister lays before the Assembly
outline budget proposals under Standing
Order 20.7 they must also lay such
accompanying
information as is specified in the protocol agreed under
Standing Order
20.1A.
20.7B In accordance with Standing Order 20.2 (or Standing Order
20.6), a Welsh Minister must lay before the Assembly detailed
budget proposals, including the proposed budget
allocations within each
Ministerial
portfolio.
20.8 A Welsh Minister may make a statement in plenary
on the draft budget as soon as possible after
the outline budget proposals are laid in accordance with
Standing Order 20.7. The statement may be debated.
20.9 No motion may be moved in plenary in respect of
the draft budget for the government until
after both the following dates have passed:
i)
the
deadline by which the responsible committee is required to report
on the outline budget proposals under Standing Order 20.4(ii) (or
Standing Order 20.6); and
ii)
the deadline by which consideration of the detailed budget
proposals by other committees must be completed under Standing
Order 20.4(iii) (or Standing Order 20.6).
20.10 [Standing
Order removed by resolution in Plenary on 21 June
2017]
20.11 The responsible committee’s report may recommend
changes to the amounts
proposed in the outline budget proposals provided that:
i)
the
net effect of those changes would not increase or decrease the
aggregate amounts proposed in the outline budget proposals for the
government; or
ii)
any
recommendation to increase the total spend proposed is accompanied
by a proposal for a commensurate increase in the level of
financing; or
iii)
any
recommendation to decrease the level of financing should include
how the reduction is to be balanced by a reduction in the total
spending proposed.
20.12
In accordance with the timetable established and published by the
Business Committee under Standing Order 20.4 or Standing Order
20.6, the Assembly must consider a
motion tabled by a Welsh Minister
that the Assembly takes note of the draft budget for the
government. Any amendment to such a motion may
only be tabled provided that:
i)
the
net effect of any changes would not increase or decrease the
aggregate amounts of resources or cash proposed in the draft budget
for the government; or
ii)
any
proposal to increase the total spend is accompanied by a proposal
for a commensurate increase in the level of financing;
or
iii)
any
proposal to decrease the level of financing includes how the
reduction is to be balanced by a reduction in the total spending
proposed.