Commentary on Sections Part 1.The Commission for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland: the Public Standards Commissioner for Scotland and the Public Appointments Commissioner for Scotland Section 20: Budget
84.Section 20 implements the recommendations of the Finance Committee’s report by enacting existing administrative budgetary arrangements between officeholders and the Parliamentary corporation designed to ensure accountability for the use of public funds.
85.Subsection (1) requires the CESPLS to prepare budget proposals for each financial year, in advance of that year, for approval by the Parliamentary corporation. The Parliamentary corporation is given power to set a timetable for the submission and approval of the budget proposals which will allow them to be integrated within the Parliamentary corporations wider budgetary arrangements.
86.Under subsection (2) the CESPLS may seek to revise the budget during the year by submitting revised proposals to the Parliamentary corporation for approval.
87.Under subsection (3), in preparing a budget or a revised budget, the Commission is required to ensure that resources will be used economically, efficiently and effectively and must under subsection (4) so certify in any budget or revised budget proposal.