Bills introduced in the Scottish Parliament are usually accompanied by a Financial Memorandum (FM). FMs should set out best estimates of the costs, savings, and changes to revenues arising from a Bill. An FM should show the margins of uncertainty for these estimates.
An FM will also outline the estimated financial implications of the Bill, and when they will arise, for:
The Finance and Public Administration Committee scrutinises FMs. The Committee asks people and organisations who may be financially affected by the legislation for their views.
This scrutiny happens at the same time as an examination of the detail of the Bill by a different committee, or different committees. The committee with the majority of responsibility for examining the detail of a Bill is usually referred to as the 'lead committee'.
After reading the responses, the Finance and Public Administration Committee will do at least one of the following:
From time to time, the Committee may not examine an FM if the time for scrutiny of a particular Bill at Stage 1 does not permit.
Here are the FMs for each Bill introduced this during the current session of the Parliament, which began in May 2021. Each link contains information about the Committee's scrutiny of that FM.
The Committee is currently inviting written evidence on the following FMs:
National Care Service (Scotland) Bill
Transvaginal Mesh Removal (Cost Reimbursement) (Scotland) Bill
Coronavirus (Discretionary Compensation for Self-isolation) (Scotland) Bill
Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill
Miners' Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill
Non-Domestic Rates (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Bill
Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill
Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill
Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
Moveable Transactions (Scotland) Bill
Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
Disabled Children (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill
Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill
If you have any queries about the Committee’s consideration of FMs please contact us: FPA.committee@parliament.scot.