Parliament could be more vigorous in exercising its powers of oversight of the country’s monetary affairs, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Thursday.
”The Constitution does not expect a lapdog Parliament, so I appeal that you engage us,” he said in debate on the Budget.
Manuel asked whether Parliament was adequately exercising the powers afforded to it in legislation.
He urged parliamentary committees to engage government ministries and departments over the next few weeks on their estimates of national expenditure, strategic plans and annual reports.
”There is no reason why committees should have an annual discussion only, or any rational reason why committees should wait for the auditor-general’s reports after the fact,” he said.
”We publish monthly expenditures, and Parliament should interrogate expenditure trends and enquire what the money bought.
”Engage us on the policy choices we make, and ask about the costs of policy. We should know, we ought to know, and you have the right to ask.”
Such changes would make for a ”far more active Parliament interested in oversight”, the minister said.
The South African Parliament was endowed with more information on public finances than any of its counterparts anywhere, Manuel said. ”Do not be afraid to use it.”
The Budget, officially tabled as the Appropriation Bill, cleared its first Parliamentary hurdle on Thursday when its first reading was given the nod by all political parties.
Some concerns were expressed, including calls for investment in accelerated land reform, objections to apparent lavish spending by the Youth Commission, and a suggestion that company taxes be raised.
The Democratic Alliance’s Manie van Dyk expressed concern about the country’s trade deficit, and questioned whether current fiscal and monetary policy was appropriate for a country trying to create jobs.
Changes to economic policy were required to combat unemployment, and discussions should be held at the highest level on what these should entail.
He was also critical of the tax overrun on the Budget not being spent on programmes to develop small business, and called for a review of employment legislation, which he said was hindering job creation.
Van Dyk said the government must improve the accountability of public servants, 4,5% of whom he claimed were absent at any given time. In some organisations it was as high as 16%.
The economic cost of low productivity amounted to over R100-billion per year, or 10% of gross domestic product.
”This is caused by poor planning and supervision which leads to 22% of all working time being wasted,” he claimed.
Manuel said sustainable job creation was achieved when the various programmes of the government were aligned.
”It cannot succeed when the choices we make are confined to the creation of a business-friendly or business-oriented Budget.
”We cannot confine our policy choices to the levels of corporate taxes and leave it at that. A more sensible approach is reflected in the 2006 Budget, which contains a policy mix that also includes the strengthening of education at all levels and steps to improve the performance of the labour market.” — Sapa