Motion on the Budget Committee

This House recognises that:

1. Three months ago the Prime Minister announced the formation of the Budget Committee.

2. The purpose of this committee was to increase transparency in the budget process.

3. The Budget Committee has not had an opportunity to participate in the budget-making process in the last two months.

4. There are large discrepancies in Government estimates of the cost of the HS4 project and independent estimates.

5. A core purpose of the Budget Committee was to establish accurate costings and income projections, which they have not been able to do.

6. Despite promises made by the Chancellor and Prime Minister, the Budget Committee was not able to satisfactorily perform its duties.

This House therefore resolves that:

1. The Prime Minister or Chancellor must issue a statement to the House explaining the lack of communication regarding the budget with the Committee.

2. Future governments must provide the Budget Committee with adequate time, resources and information to assist the Chancellor.

3. Future governments must provide the Budget Committee with copies of documents or spreadsheets that that government is making use of in the budget-making process.

4. To ensure transparency, the operation of the Budget Committee, including transcripts of its workings and copies of documents it reviews, should be made available to the public.

This motion was written by the Right Honourable Dame Faelif CT CB GBE PC MP MLA MSP MS, Captain of the Pirate Party GB and Deputy Leader of the Opposition. It is submitted on behalf of His Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition and is sponsored by the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

Opening speech by /u/Faelif:

[Deputy] Speaker,

Three months ago the then Prime Minister pledged to this House that the Budget Committee would be formed to allow cross-party consensus to be reached on budgetary matters and to ensure transparency in our national finances. Those promises to the House have not been met, despite the fact that there have been a number of costings made by the Government that have been met with incredulity by opposition figures and independent estimates alike - exactly the sorts of disputes that a Budget Committee was meant to prevent! It is important in our democracy to uphold principles of transparency and public confidence in our spending and so I join many on both sides of the aisle in calling for a proper explanation from the government and a commitment from all Members to uphold this key budgetary process in future governments.

[Deputy] Speaker, I move that the Motion on the Budget Committee be adopted by this House.

This division will end on Friday 27th October at 10pm BST.