Chairperson, colleagues, to ensure an effective link between policies and public expenditure, the first task is to establish a comprehensive, valued and appropriate policy agenda. Assessing spending programmes against a range of measures such as national developmental plans, a poverty-reduction strategy and the political manifesto of the ruling party is a difficult but manageable task. This task is difficult because of the following reasons: One, various policy agendas that have competing requirements; two, a lack of clarity on how a policy should be ranked; and three, a lack of policy prioritisation, which causes a dilemma for line agencies.
South Africa's policy agenda represents a contract between voters of the majority party and their elected leaders. Changes to policy and budget systems are embedded in this understanding of the government-voter relationship.
It is accepted that contracts cannot be specified for all eventualities. Policy agendas and budgets are examples of contracts that are transparent. It is not feasible to cover all contingencies that may affect the ability of a government to deliver on its policy promises.
On this note, could I ask this House to pass this Finance Bill? Thank you very much.
Debate concluded.
Bill agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.