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{
    "id": 866877,
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    "content": "(2) Regarding the inquiry on which of the two Committees is charged with the responsibility of assessing the implications of Members’ proposed amendments to the Finance Bill, the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning is mandated, under Standing Order 245 (1), to introduce to the House the Finance Bill in the form in which the Bill was submitted as a legislative proposal by the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, together with the report of the Committee on the Bill as a Departmental Committee would be expected to do. By practice, a Committee to which a Bill is charged, or which introduces a Bill, and which additionally reports on the Bill, is typically expected to be the same Committee that handles any amendments to the same Bill. Consequently, amendments to the Finance Bill are under the purview of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. However, this arrangement notwithstanding, Standing Order 245(2) requires the Departmental Committee on Finance and Planning to ensure that its recommendations to the Finance Bill and, by interpretation, any proposed amendment by Members on revenue matters on the Finance Bill or any other Bill are in such a manner that the total amount of revenue raised is consistent with the approved fiscal framework. The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning is, therefore, obligated to ensure that any amendment to the taxation proposals and revenue matters in the Finance Bill do not negatively impact the macro economic and fiscal framework. It might thus be necessary for the Finance Committee to ensure that any amendment to the Finance Bill is accompanied by a statement on the financial implications of the amendments before it can be considered by the House. (3) Regarding the third and final inquiry on whether there is a distinction between tax policy and tax revenue raising measures in the Finance Bill, it is my considered view that the two issues are invariably and inextricably intertwined. They cannot be separated, whether for legislative or implementation purposes. Regarding the second part of this inquiry, namely, which Committee is charged with the responsibility of addressing tax policy and tax revenue raising measures, the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning retains this mandate based on the reasons highlighted herein. Hon. Members, in conclusion, it may be argued that there are valid concerns when it comes to the specific differentiation of the mandate of the Budget and Appropriations Committee vis-à-vis the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. In particular, the key areas of apparent overlap involve the evaluation of Budget-related Bills and the analysis of public debt. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}