Hon Deputy Chairperson and hon Minister, I just want to find out why we are not rather have an agreement that is ratified by Parliament? Instead of having this Declaration of Intent which is not binding, why should rather have an agreement in a form of a bilateral with the Kingdom of Denmark that is binding and ratified by Parliament? Thanks.
The MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Hon member, I
suppose the reason is that we would want to explore the effectiveness of the partnership and the appetite from both parties. Once one is assured that this is a long-term relationship, I think that then one would be looking at formalising it a bit more. I suppose you do not really want to enter into a marriage until you know that this is somebody you want to be with for the rest of your life. [Laughter.]
Question 165:
The MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Deputy
Chairperson, with reference to the Forestry and Fisheries portfolios and the budgets which are still with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, the transition has not yet taken place, but it is in progress in line with the national macro- organisational governance process. The national macro-organisational governance, NMOG, is a process and it is in progress and we are currently submitting the departmental structure to the Department of Public Service and Administration for approval. After the approval has been received from the Department of Public Service and Administration, DPSA, as mentioned above, the National Treasury's approval is needed to change the Appropriation Bill to include the new structure in the Budget process which we hope will take place in November or December 2019.
The agreed upon figures are then transferred and incorporated in the estimates of the national expenditure for 2020. Finalisation and agreement on these figures ought to take place by 24 October, which has already come and gone. The estimates of the national expenditure for 2020 are then tabled in Parliament in February 2020, and from 01 April 2020, the newly establishes department will operate including the newly transferred functions.
What is currently happening is that we have an agreement together with the Department of Agriculture that we take joint decisions on all major matters so that we are both aware of everything that is happening in the department. Thank you very much.