Each MP to be given 22 minutes during budget debate

The Parliament General Committee has decided that every Member of Parliament will be given 22 minutes during the debate on the estimated budget for next year, before it is passed by the Parliament.

The estimated budget will be presented to the Parliament on 27 November. The debate is scheduled to start on 4 December.

At a General Committee meeting held last Wednesday, members decided to give 15 minutes to each MP to debate on the budget, and 7 minutes to debate on the budget report. The Committee also decided to make changes to the budget sittings if necessary.

The date to present the budget to the Parliament has been postponed from 26 to 27 November following a request by the Ministry of Finance.

Finance Minister Abdullah Jihad will attend the Parliament on 27 November to present the budget summary, and to brief on the current economic position of the country.

The Public Accounts Committee will meet with Jihad prior to the presentation of the budget to the Parliament.

Jihad has said that next year's budget cannot exceed this year's, and that next year's state income is also unlikely to exceed this year's.

He has also said that the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including restricting dollar exchange amounts for resorts and increasing tourism taxes, will be presented to the Parliament with the budget.