Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, 22 Mar 2000

Meeting date: Wednesday, March 22, 2000

Official Report 163KB pdf

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Budget Process

We move on to item 3 on the agenda, which is the paper on the annual budget process. A note from the clerk sets out the proposed procedure for handling the consideration of the annual budget for 2001-02. At the start of April, the committee will receive some papers from the Executive, with its preliminary thoughts on the contents of the budget for 2001-02. We will consider that, as proposed, in our meeting on 5 April, and we will examine the budget in further detail, with the minister in attendance, at our meeting on 3 May. We are expected to produce a response for the Finance Committee by 17 May.

At the end of the note from the clerk, there are recommendations on approving the procedure, on agreeing the principle of appointing a reporter for the budget process to report to the Finance Committee and on appointing a reporter to carry out that task. Does the committee agree to approve the procedures that are set out in the clerk's paper?

Members indicated agreement.

Does the committee agree the principle of appointing a reporter for the budget consideration?

Members indicated agreement.

Can we nominate an individual to do that? That person must be a non-member of the Finance Committee, which rules out George Lyon, myself and Elaine Thomson.

I nominate Elaine Murray.

Is the committee agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Elaine Murray will be the reporter for the budget process.

We now move into private session.

Meeting continued in private until 12:31.