1. CURRENT ISSUES & FUTURE TRENDS IN PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT Rick Stapenhurst World Bank Institute

2. OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION  The Budget Cycle + Parliament (Ex- Ante and Ex-Post)  Conceptual Approach to Parliament’s Role in the Ex-Post Budget Cycle  Current Situation in Commonwealth  Future Challenges & Directions incl. Support for PACs  Conclusions

3. The Budget Process

4. The Budget : Amendment powers: a survey

5. Conceptual Approach: Key Actors and their Relationships Auditor General Parliament Executive Reports Examines Accountability Relationship PUBLIC FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

6. Conceptual Approach…cont. : Fiduciary Obligations Explained Parliament, PAC and public audit  Parliament holds ‘power of the purse’ and obligation to hold the Executive to account  PAC oversees use of public funds & resources by Executive  Does this by examining public accounts

7. Conceptual Approach…cont. : Fiduciary Obligations Explained Mandates of PACs :  PAC mandate determined by Rules/ SOs, some case by Constitution  Narrow Focus - financial probity and regularity  Wider Focus - value for money, perf. audits, program effectiveness  Other matters can be referred to PAC

8. Conceptual Approach…cont. : Fiduciary Obligations Explained PAC and the Auditor General  PAC work often determined by the AG reports  PAC must decide follow-up issues  An effective PAC = depts. taking AG concerns more seriously  Cooperation with AG on follow-up = greater accountability  Ensures Depts. are taking corrective action

9. Current Situation in the Commonwealth:  Recent CPA study on PACs – The Overseers  - similar issues, developments and challenges across Commonwealth  Key issues : Status of PAC, Relations with the AG, Membership, Training/ Capacity-Building, Resources, Working Practices, Reporting and Follow-up

10. Current Situation in the Commonwealth: Common Features:  Average size = 11 MPs  Size reflects party in legislature.  2/3 of Chairs from an opposition party; and 1/3 from the governing party  Prime focus on Public Accounts & reports of AG.  PAC reports generally available to the public.  Generally, PAC hearings are open to the public and media.

11. Current Situation in the Commonwealth : Success Factors*  A broad scope  Power to select issues w/o gov’t direction  Power to report, suggest improvements, and follow-up  Strong support from AG, MPs and research staff that creates a unity of purpose about PAC work. * Based on recent World Bank survey

12. Current Situation in the Commonwealth: Common Challenges:  Highly partisan climate  Government dislike of legislative oversight  Lack of media or public involvement  Lack of a strong ethical base for public service

13. Future Directions and Challenges:  Some PACs deal primarily with specific audit findings and transactions  PAC evolution parallels growth in mandate of legislative auditors into value for money  PACs not always prepared to handle broader scope of the work/more complex accountability arrangements of modern governments

14. Future Directions and Challenges: Some Recommendations:  Improved AG links  Improved resources for PACs  Structured training for PAC members  Better use of sub-committees by PAC  Better involvement of public & media  Better procedures for follow-up  Greater links and info exchanges with other PACs

15. Conclusions:  PAC one part in public accountability framework but only one with links to all other actors  Accountability relationships affect PAC effectiveness  Perf. reporting & VFM audits require greater consideration of relationships /capacity of PACs and AG  PAC exchanges = strengthening PACs & accountability frameworks