Presentation and Second Reading of Appropriation Bill

(1) Any Bill the estimated requirements for expenditure on all the services of the Government of this Country for the current or succeeding financial year shall be known as an Appropriation Bill. (2) Estimates containing the details of the said financial requirements shall be presented at the same time as any such Bill. (3) Immediately after the presentation of an Appropriation Bill, the Minister presenting the same shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 49 (Appointment of Days for Stages of Bills), be entitled to move the second reading of the Appropriation Bill. A seconder shall not be required. (4) The motion for such second reading shall be the occasion for the Minister of Finance to make his annual financial statement or budget speech. After the Minister has made his Budget Speech, no other Member shall speak then on the motion and the Minister of Finance shall name the day upon which debate on the second reading shall be resumed. (5) After the motion for the second reading of the Appropriation Bill has been resumed under paragraph (4) of this Standing Order, the debate shall be confined to the financial and economic state of the Country and the general principles of Government policy and administration as indicated by the Appropriation Bill and the Estimates. (6) When the Appropriation Bill is read a second time, a Minister may move that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House to be called the Committee of Supply to consider the Bill and the Estimates, and thereupon and 66 Belize Constitution without question put, the House shall go into Committee, or may name a date for consideration of the Bill and the Estimates in