Finance Committee, 24 Apr 2001

Meeting date: Tuesday, April 24, 2001

Official Report 122KB pdf

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Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (Expenditure Plan 2002-03)

Item 4 concerns the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body's provisional expenditure plans. Members will recall that at the end of March I wrote to Sir David Steel on behalf of the committee about the capital charges element of the SPCB's budget. We asked for a breakdown of the capital charges, which are set to rise to more than £18 million in 2003-04. The SPCB's response has been included in members' papers. It seems to me that the information that we sought has been provided, but I invite members' comments.

The minor change in timetabling, which is referred to in the second last paragraph, seems sensible. I have no objection to it.

Thank you. Members will also note that the letter questions the timing of the presentation of level 2 figures, which must be presented towards the end of the summer recess—although I am not sure when the summer recess ends. Sir David says that the projected date is currently

"by 20 August or the first sitting day thereafter."

I understand that changing the date will require an amendment to our written agreement with the SPCB. We will move ahead with that. Has the Scottish Commission for Public Audit intimated that it will be in a similar position with regard to the date by which it will submit its figures to us?

The same problem probably holds for that body, too. As it is a parliamentary body, it is unlikely to be able to meet until Parliament returns in the first week of September.

Are members happy for us to make those changes?

Members indicated agreement.