Under the terms of the Written Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Finance Committee on the budget process(click link - 69 KB pdf), it is expected that the Scottish Government's Draft Budget will be published before 20 September each year. The normal timetable for parliamentary scrutiny follows on from this date (see the budget process webpage for more information).

As the UK Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) will not be published until 20 October (see the UK Treasury website for more information), the timetable for the Scottish Parliament’s scrutiny of the 2011-12 Draft Budget has been altered, as follows—

• 20 October: UK CSR published

• 17 or 18 November: Scottish Spending Review and 2011-12 Draft Budget published

• Mid-January: Finance Committee report on the Draft Budget published.

Budget Strategy Phase

In preparation for scrutiny of the Draft Budget, in April and May 2010, the Committee undertook an inquiry examining efficient delivery of public services, as part of the Budget Strategy Phase.  Please follow the link below for full information on the inquiry, including the Committee's report.

• Finance Committee - Budget Strategy Phase - inquiry into the efficient delivery of public services

Guidance to subject committees

The Committee issued its Guidance to subject committees in June 2010.  The guidance draws in large part on the report on the inquiry into efficient delivery of public services.  Please follow the link below for a copy of the guidance.

• Draft Budget 2011-12 - Guidance to subject committees (182KB pdf posted 15.06.2010)

Independent Budget Review Group

Following the conclusion of the 2010-11 budget process, the Scottish Government established the Independent Budget Review Group.  The Group is due to report in July 2010, and the Committee plans to take evidence from the Group and from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in September.

Evidence-taking programme

Information about further evidence-taking by the Committee will appear here in due course.

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Contact: For specific information on the Committee's work on the budget process, please contact Allan Campbell, Assistant Clerk to the Committee, on 0131 348 5451 or email finance.committee@scottish.parliament.uk.