HOF 020/04
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Ad Economorte A ADVANCE COPY
[Fien]
1095 OF 4 NOVEMBER.
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TO ROUTINE
VOTE ON ACCOUNT
CUR PRACTICE FOR THE BUDGET DEBATE HAS BEEN TO ISSUE THE DRAFT ESTIMATES AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN MID-FEBRUARY AND FOR THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO MOVE THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. A COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS THE DRAFT ESTIMATES AND COUNCIL DEBATES THC APPROPRIATION BILL IN MARCH WITH A VIEW TO IT BECOMING LAW BEFORE 1ST APRIL.
2. UNOFFICIALS HAVE NOW ASKED FOR MORE TIME FOR THE DEBATE ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE PRESENT PROCEDURE GIVES THEM INSUFFICIENT
CHANCE TO PREPARE. WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET THIS REQUEST.
3. WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT, BECAUSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED, WE COULD NOT DO SO BY PRESENTING THE
DRAFT COTIMATES AND MOVING THE APPROPRIATION BILL ANY EARLIER
THAN WE DO NOW. WE THINK THE ONLY PRACTICAL EXPEDIENT WOULD
BE TO EXTEND THE DEBATE BEYOND 1ST APRIL, WE HAVE EXAMINED
VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT COULD BE.
FINANCED TEMPORARILY IN THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR BEFORE THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS VOTED THE FULL SUPPLY, WE HAVE
CONCLUDED THAT THE LEAST CONTRIVED AND MOST STRAIGHT FORWARD SOLUTION WOULD DE TO ADOPT A FORM OF THE VOTE ON ACCOUNT** PROCEDURE.
4. UNDER SUCH A PROCEDURE, WE ENVISAGE THAT, AS AT PRESENT, WE WOULD PRECENT THE DRAFT ESTIMATED IN MID-FEBRUARY AND THE
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