The South African Parliament is expected to cost R1,07-billion in 2007/8, with constituency allowances for MPs showing the largest spike.
Constituency support will cost R188-million in 2007/8 — up from R105-million in 2006/7, while the estimated allocation for 2008/9 rises to R202-million.
The figures are up about R67-million from the R121-million estimate for 2007/8 in the 2006 budget, and up about R73-million for the 2008/9 year from the R128,8-million in the 2006 budget.
Parliament is expected to have spent about R855-million in 2006/7 — about R156-million less than estimated.
However, spending by Parliament is expected to rise to R1,2-billion in 2009/10. Members’ remuneration made up about R222-million in 2006/7 and it is expected to rise to R242-million in 2007/08.
Spending in 2006/07 was down on administration to R158-million — below the R216-million estimate. The legislation and oversight programme spend was down from R173-million estimate to R126-million.
Spending on MPs’ facilities was down from a budget of R151-million to just R121-million. — I-Net Bridge