Chairperson, Cope welcomes the emphasis on the National Development Plan, NDP, and believes it will play an important role in stabilising fiscal discipline and provide for a conservative Fiscal Framework in the years to come. We welcome the commitment to prudent fiscal management and we support the fact that inflation targeting must provide a solid foundation.
The challenge will be to stick to the 2012 baselines. If the departments are not going to do their part, the Treasury will struggle. It is a collective approach by all. If the government as a whole is going to fail, the baselines will not be respected.
Finally, the stabilisation of public debt must remain a top priority, and steps to avoid further downgrades must be on top of the agenda. Cope shall support this report. Thank you.