Page 8 - Parliament Budget Office Annual Report 2022-2023

FOREWORD BY
THE ADVISORY BOARD CO-CHAIRPERSONS
The Parliamentary Budget Office Advisory Board has been constituted in line with the 2018 amendments to the Money Bills Act of 2009, providing support to the Executive Authority of Parliament in its oversight and governance of the Parliamentary Budget Office. The oversight provided by the Advisory Board then ensures that the Parliamentary Budget Office implements the Money Bills Act and that the Office receives budget transfers to fulfil its mandate.
The Advisory Board notes that the process conducted by the Parliamentary Budget Office and Parliament Administration Services remains ongoing in fulfilling the requirements of the amendments to Section 15 of the Money Bills Act. These amendments are then clarified by the Office governance and reporting framework in stipulating that the Office become independent while remaining accountable to Parliament Houses through the Executive Authority. The full implementation of the amended Money Bills Act is long overdue, requiring careful and better coordination between the Office and the Parliament Administrations Services in a complex, ongoing process to ensure that the Parliamentary Budget Office continues to fulfil its mandate with the requisite budgets and human resources capacity. This process ensures that the Parliamentary Budget Office will rebuild its organisational structure to ensure ongoing administrative and operational effectiveness. The Advisory Board has hence noted the progress made with regard to the organisational review process yet remains very concerned about the pace on this progress. The Board is looking forward to more progress being achieved in this restructuring in the year ahead.
The Parliamentary Budget Office continues to provide professionalism and due rigour in reporting on its operations and finances. Moreover, the Office has performed well in terms of meeting the performance and reporting standards required by the Money Bills Act. The Advisory Board will thus continue to monitor their performance and expect the same standard of professionalism during the organisation’s realignment and restructuring.
Mr CT Frolick, MP
Mr AJ Nyambi, MP
The Office also provides technical support on public finances, including money bills and other policy matters before the Parliament that have budgetary implications. This technical support is provided in particular to the finance and appropriations committees of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces. Moreover, the Advisory Board is happy to report that the Parliamentary Budget Office continues to fulfil its role in support of these Parliamentary Committees. Notwithstanding the ongoing organisational changes required by the amendments to the Money bills Act, the Office has been successful in continuing to provide high-level, professional technical advice.
Parliamentary Budget Office | Parliament of the Republic of South Africa
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