Hon Speaker, the Human Sciences Research Council, the HSRC, which was also at the hearings, had this to say about the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement:
Employment is clearly stated as the government's top priority; it takes into account the scale of the challenges faced in the areas of poverty, education, and health; it recognises cities as engines of growth requiring more investment in infrastructure to address bottlenecks and backlogs; it recognises that the expanding informal settlements need investment; it provides for faster growth in municipal spending than provincial and national expenditure; it recognises that investment in transport can improve living standards for workers, cut transport costs and increase productivity; and it gives due attention to rural development, youth employment, the Industrial Policy Action Plan, and the Community Works Programme.
I think that the Deputy Minister did mention the issue of the money Bills Act. Clearly, Parliament has been seized with the implications of this. A number of workshops have been held to capacitate members with the obligations of these workshops. But, clearly, I know that some members will raise the fact that there is no parliamentary budget office, but I can say without fear of contradiction that the process for the establishment of a parliamentary budget office is on as - I think that this morning - some documents were delivered to members of the committee. Finally, no committee has approached the Standing Committee on Appropriations to propose amendments after the budget review reports process. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Minister, the Deputy Minister, National Treasury staff and colleagues of the Standing Committee on Appropriations who really dedicated their time - even after hours - to ensure that the report was passed, and today this amending Bill is being adopted. The ANC supports the passing of the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill. I thank you. [Applause.]