HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 192343,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/192343/?format=api",
"text_counter": 146,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Mudavadi",
"speaker_title": "The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government",
"speaker": {
"id": 84,
"legal_name": "Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi",
"slug": "musalia-mudavadi"
},
"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to second the Motion moved by the Minister for Finance on the Vote on Account. This is a Procedural Motion in the sense that it has been a tradition of this House that whenever the Budget has been presented, the Minister for Finance then seeks the authority of the House, so that Parliament can authorise the release of 50 per cent of the monies required from what is reflected in the Annual Printed Estimates to allow for the functioning of the Government. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I just wish to reiterate that what is sought here does not preclude the Members of Parliament from focusing on some specific aspects of the individual Ministries. More opportunity for scrutiny will be made available in the course of the proceedings of the House, particularly when the individual Ministries start tabling their detailed proposals in terms of expenditure and programmes. That will provide the hon. Members with a much more elaborate opportunity to question the programmes that the Ministers will be bringing with respect to their various Votes. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I just want to emphasize that, as things stand now, most functions of 1412 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 25, 2008 Government, especially when it comes to the end of the financial year, tend to be slow and a lot of activities that ought to be programmed can actually get delayed. Therefore, I would like to plead with the hon. Members to support this Motion, so that the important issues, especially those relating to the CDF--- Mr. Speaker, Sir, not too long ago, there was a Question in this House where it came out very clearly that there have been delays in the release of those funds. So, it is absolutely essential that Parliament endorses this request by the Minister for Finance, so that we can embark on the programmes that relate to our constituencies. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I also want to go further and talk about the local authorities because, within this framework, the local authorities will be able to receive the resources that fall under the Local Authorities Transfer Fund (LATF). Those are vital resources required by the 175 local authorities to start dealing with programmes at the grassroots that will have an immediate and important impact on the wellbeing of the people who voted us into this House. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I just want to emphasize once again that this is a procedural issue. It is not a matter that would cause any major upheaval to the country. In fact, denying the Ministry of Finance the authority, we would complicate the functioning of the Government. So, I just want to second the Motion, and request the hon. Members to deal with it expeditiously. They can make their contributions but end up approving this Vote on Account, so the public activities can be started in the next financial year. With those few remarks, I beg to second."
}