The Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee is today launching a review of the Parliament's process for scrutinising the Scottish Government's budget.

The scrutiny of the budget for the 2008-09 financial year was completed in February and the Committee is now seeking views on the current process and how it can be improved.

Launching the review, Committee Convener Andrew Welsh MSP said: “Parliament has said that it wants the budget process to be reviewed. The process for the coming financial year was completed last month and our Committee thought it was important to launch this review while the process is still fresh in the minds of those involved.

“Due to the technical nature of the subject matter we are seeking written evidence through a detailed consultation paper which sets out how the current system operates, explains the principles underpinning the system and outlines the key issues that the Committee will be considering.

“While some of the issues will only be relevant to those directly involved in the process I would encourage anyone with an interest in the scrutiny of how Scotland's public money is spent to read the consultation paper and send us their views.”

The Committee is seeking written evidence through a consultation paper, which can be downloaded at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/finance/budget/Budget_Review.htm

The deadline for receipt of submissions is Friday 30 May.

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