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{
    "id": 1019,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1019/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 9,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members will recall that on Thursday, 1st December, 2011 Order No.8 on the Order Paper of that day was the Committee of the whole House on the Finance Bill (Bill No.12 of 2011). When the Order was called, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance requested that the matter be deferred as numerous amendments had been proposed to the Bill, some of which were new clauses. He further stated that some of the amendments had far reaching consequences not just to matters pertaining to finance, but also to issues touching on the mandates of other Ministries. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, therefore, requested time to enable him to go through the amendments in detail and engage Members who had filed them. Hon. Members, I have considered the request by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance for deferment of the Committee of the whole House on the Finance Bill, 2011. The request raises a fundamental issue on the scope and ambit of the Finance Bill; what matters ought to be covered in a Finance Bill, and which Committee Stage amendments should be allowed to a Finance Bill. The Finance Bill, 2011 was published on 8th June, 2011. The Long Title to the Bill reads as follows:- “A Bill for an Act of Parliament to amend the law relating to various taxes and duties and for matters incidental thereto.” This Long Title clearly indicates that the purpose and scope of the Finance Bill, 2011 extends to matters of taxation and duties. It should, therefore, follow that any amendments proposed to the Bill at the Committee Stage should fall within this general scope of the Bill. Hon. Members, the practice that is emerging where amendments covering diverse subject matters are introduced as amendments to a Finance Bill is one that requires to be reconsidered. Some of the amendments that have been proposed to Finance Bills in recent times, and in the present case, cover matters that rightfully fall within the mandates of Ministries other than the Ministry responsible for finance, and consequently the mandates of various Departmental Committees. Introducing such amendments to a Finance Bill denies the relevant Ministries and Committees of the House, stakeholders, and the general public, the opportunity to reflect and deliberate on the proposed amendments."
}