Thursday 6 December 2007
Members present:
Sir Stuart Bell, in the Chair
Mr Clive Betts
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
Mr Frank Doran
Mr Robert Key
Mr Tommy McAvoy
1. 2007/08 MID-YEAR FORECAST OUTTURN
The Committee took note of a paper from the Director of Financial Management.
2. THREE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN
The Committee took note of a paper from the Director General, Resources and agreed to recommend to the Commission that:
(i) The baseline for 2008/09 is planned on the basis of running at 2007/08 Estimate levels. This would result in a resource Estimate of £233.1 million, plus an additional £3.3 million to cover funding of grant-in-aid paid to the four parliamentary bodies (if agreed by the Commission), before the usual inflation and accounting adjustments;
(ii) Baselines for 2009/10 and 2010/11 should at this stage assume financial provision that is broadly equivalent to 2008/09. This position may need to be re-visited next year when greater certainty exists around the £3.7 million and £2.3 million resource bids identified for 2009/10 and 2010/11 respectively.
3. WORKS SPENDING: TERMLY REPORT
The Committee were briefed by the Serjeant-at-Arms and took note of his paper.
The Committee recorded its appreciation of the Serjeant-at-Arms' service to the Committee and to the House over the past three years.
[Adjourned till Thursday 24 January 2008 at 9.45 am.