Budget Debate: 15 mins per MP, 7 in the last

General Committee of the Parliament has decided to give 22 minutes to each MP in the debate of the State Budget for 2017.

The Committee made the decision following the inquiry file by the President of the Parliament, Abdulla Maseeh.

Deputy Chair of the Committee, the MP for Kudahuvadhoo constituency, Ahmed Amir told Sun Media tonight that when the floor opens for debate on the budget, every MP would get 15 minutes. And when the budget research committee passes the budget and presents to the floor, each MP would get seven minutes.

The decision was made at the Committee meeting today with vote of six out of the eight MPs that took part in the meeting according to the President of the Parliament.

The State Budget for 2017 is set at MVR 26 Billion. The budget for 2016 was MVR 27.457 billion. Hence the State Budget for 2017 would be smaller compared to this year.

Finance Minister, Ahmed Munawar previously said that the 2017 Budget would be smaller compared to 2016.

Minister Munawar said that the government thinking is to reduce the recurrent expenditure next year and the purpose is to balance the income and expenses.