Official Report 1027KB pdf
Good afternoon. Before we begin this afternoon’s business, I note that I undertook to respond to the point of order that Mr Whitfield made at the end of the members’ business debate last night. I have had time to reflect on his point of order, and I will advise Mr Whitfield and other members accordingly. A bill must, on its introduction, be accompanied by a financial memorandum that sets out best estimates of the costs, savings and changes to revenues to which the bill’s provisions would give rise. The rules on a financial memorandum do not require it to include comment on the merits or otherwise of the bill’s provisions—that information is included in the bill’s policy memorandum.
As Mr Whitfield will be aware, although the matters are interlinked, standing orders make separate provision on financial resolutions. When it is determined that a bill requires a financial resolution, no proceedings may be taken on the bill at any stage after stage 1 unless the Parliament has, by resolution, agreed to a financial resolution. I hope that that clarification is helpful.