Funds for essential State projects trapped in Parliament: Auditor General

The Audit Report of the Parliament for 2011 has noted that the excessive annual budget assigned for the Parliament leaves other essential State projects short of funds.

The report states that MVR35.4 million and MVR20.7 million remained unused from the Parliament budget at the end of 2010 and 2009 respectively.

“Lack of proper studies in this regard results in money necessary for other State projects being trapped in the Parliament,” says the report.

In 2010, only MVR89.2 million out of MVR124.5 million was spent from the budget assigned for the Parliament

Similarly in 2009, only MVR68.5 million out of MVR241.6 million was spent from the budget assigned for the Parliament.

MVR70.1 million and MVR54.3 million was spent as salaries of Parliament employees in 2010 and 2009 respectively, and MVR3.3 million and MVR2.1 million was spent as Parliament travel expenses in 2010 and 2009 respectively.

The Parliament spent MVR302,169 on phone bills, MVR1.5 million on electricity, and MVR3.8 million on insurance.

The Audit report recommended the Parliament to conduct proper studies, and determine planned activities when preparing the budget.