Parliament’s budget allocation for the 2014/15 financial year represents a 6% increase from the previous fiscal period.
This was revealed by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Baleka Mbete, during the debate on Parliament’s Budget Vote on Tuesday. Parliament’s budget allocation covers five programmes - administration, legislation and oversight, public and international participation, Members’ facilities, and associated services. The total budget estimate for the 2014/15 financial year is R1.99 billion.
“The current budget of Parliament represents a transitional budget and allows us the space to move from the fourth to the fifth Parliament,” Ms Mbete explained. She explained that the 6% budget growth did not necessarily mean there were now more funds at Parliament’s disposal in the current financial year. “This growth should be interpreted as a baseline adjustment to inflation costs and it therefore does not literally mean there are more funds allocated to Parliament,” she said.
In terms of the actual allocations in the current budget, the allocation for administration – which provides for, among other things, the provision of strategic leadership, institutional policy, overall management and corporate services for Parliament’s executive, management and staff, amounts to R442 million.
“This is an increase of 8% from last year. In particular, spending covers the establishment of the fifth Parliament, the development of an integrated budgeting and performance system, and the completion of the third phase of the Information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure upgrade.”
For legislation and oversight, which provides for procedural and administrative services for Parliament to carry out its core functions, the total allocation is R361 million, which is a 4% increase compared to 2013.
There is an 11% increase in the allocation for public and international participation, amounting to R132.6million. The programme’s budget for this financial year is geared towards the upgrading of the broadcast infrastructure and in enhancing public participation efforts, among other things.
“The budget allocation for Members’ facilities is R224 million, a 6% increase from last year. The budget makes provision for the purchasing of tools of trade for Members and travel facilities to ensure that Members experience a working environment that supports their role as public representatives,” Ms Mbete said.
The allocation for associated services amounts to R349 million, which translated into a 5% growth. Under this programme, financial support to political parties and constituency offices is covered as per an agreed formula.
In addition to the budget of the five programmes, Parliament has a budget of R481 million - a direct charge to the national revenue fund, as a provision for Members’ remuneration. This equates to 6% increase compared to last year’s budget.
