MHK welcomes move towards 'international best practice' over Budget process

Tynwald back calls for spending plan to be published ahead of debate

An MHK who's long campaigned for changes to the Budget process says it finally looks like international best practice will be brought in on the Isle of Man.

Tynwald approved a series of recommendations this week from a committee that's been looking into how the Budget system works.

The proposals include publishing the spending plan six weeks before it's debated to increase public awareness and scrutiny, and to allow for amendments to included.

You can find the full report HERE.

Currently, the public doesn't see the full contents of the Budget until the treasury minister has made their speech in Tynwald, while members can only vote for or against the entire Budget, with no provision for amendments.

Recommendations that gained support called for Treasury to publish estimates ahead the Budget as an October statement, for members to receive training in financial scrutiny and that budgets and government accounts should draw a clear line between spending and strategic goals.

The Council of Ministers brought forward a series of amendments which would have seen some of the proposals pushed back until after next year's Budget; none of the changes were supported by the court.

Speaker of the House of Keys and chair of the Public Accounts Committee Juan Watterson was a member of the committee, and welcomed the support:

The chair of the committee, Alex Allinson previously discussed the report and its proposals - you can find out more HERE.