The Spring Memorandum

In the so-called Spring Memorandum the minister of Finance reports on the progress in government expenditure and revenue. In combination with the Budget Memorandum and the Fall Memorandum the Spring Memorandum offers a general statement of the State's Finances. The debate about the Spring Memorandum is held by the end of June or early in July, shortly before the summer recess. To this end, the minister has tot submit the Spring Memorandum to the House of Representatives by June 1st at the latest.

The Spring Memorandum gives rise to comprehensive debate between the financial experts of the House and the minister of Finance about the financial prospects and any future wishes. In the debate on the Spring Memorandum the MPs and the minister often also look ahead to the next Budget Memorandum. Windfalls, shortfalls and changes in policy over the running year can lead to adjustments in the estimates of the current budget. These are incorporated into the Spring and Fall Memorandums and the accompanying so-called supplementary budget bills.

Supllementary budget bills
If a minister needs more budget than he has been allocated by Parliament, he has to propose an additional, so-called supplementary budget bill, for instance when expenditure exceeds the estimates. Supplementary budget bills are updated estimates, and need to be considered and adopted by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Major changes in policy are seldom put forward, however. Supplementary budget bills are processed by the House and the Senate as any other bill: The House has the right to propose amendments; the Senate does not have this right.