WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1985
+EACH YEAR, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE ARE FORMALLY LAID ON THE TABLE AT THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL. THE PRESIDENT THEN REFERS THEM TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR DETAILED EXAMINATION BEFORE CONSIDERATION OF THE SCHEDULE TO THE APPROPRIATION BILL IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL.
+ THE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S TASK IS TO EXAMINE THE PROPOSALS FOR EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY JUSTIFIED. THAT IS TO SAY, THAT THE VOTE PROVISION SOUGHT IS NO MORE THAN IS NECESSARY TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY INTENTIONS TO BE FULFILLED. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE COMMITTEE MAY CALL BEFORE THEM THE PUBLIC OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SERVICE OR SERVICES SHOWN UNDER ANY PARTICULAR HEADS AND SUBHEADS OF THE ESTIMATES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS PUT TO THEM. THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS WILL NEED TO SATISFY MEMBERS THAT NO MORE VOTE PROVISION THAN IS JUSTIFIED IS BEING SOUGHT, AT ANY RATE IN THE ABSENCE OF CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES.
+MEMBERS REQUIRE ANSWERS TO TWO GROUPS OF QUESTIONS: FIRST, THERE ARE THOSE REQUIRING WRITTEN REPLIES FROM THE CONTROLLING OFFICERS OF THE HEADS OR SUBHEADS OF EXPENDITURE TO WHICH THEY RELATE AND SECOND, THERE ARE THOSE FOR WHICH THE CONTROLLING OFFICERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO GIVE ORAL REPLIES.
+MEMBERS ARE GIVEN COPIES OF THE DRAFT ESTIMATES TWO WEEKS BEFORE BUDGET DAY. DURING THE PAST THREE WEEKS, THEY FORMED WORKING GROUPS TO STUDY THE PROPOSALS FOR EXPENDITURE IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES. AS I HAVE JUST SAID, THEY WILL RAISE QUESTIONS ON THOSE PROPOSALS, BUT QUESTIONS ON THE UNDERLYING POLICIES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. THE PROPER TIME AND PLACE FOR QUESTIONS OR CRITICAL COMMENT ON THOSE POLICIES IS IN THE DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ITSELF.
+THERE WILL BE FOUR MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE: TODAY AND ON THE AFTERNOONS OF 8TH, 11TH AND 12TH OF THIS MONTH. THE AGENDA FOR EACH AFTERNOON WILL BE DEVOTED TO A PARTICULAR GROUP OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES. THESE ARE LAW AND ORDERI SOCIAL SERVICES ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND GENERAL SERVICES.
+EACH MEETING WILL COMMENCE WITH A BRIEF CONSIDERATION OF THE REPLIES TO QUESTIONS FOR WHICH WRITTEN RESPONSES WERE REQUESTED. IF MEMBERS WISH TO RAISE FURTHER QUESTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE WRITTEN REPLIES, THEY WILL SIGNIFY THEIR INTENTIONS TO ME AS THE CHAIRMAN, WILL THEN ARRANGE FOR THE RELEVANT CONTROLLING OFFICER TO ATTEND LATER, IF HE HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN ASKED TO DO SO TO ANSWER ORAL QUESTIONS.
/+FACH CONTROLLING
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