Functions

5Reports

F1(1)

The Commission must send a report prepared under section 2(2) to the Scottish Ministers in sufficient time for them to use the report to prepare—

(a)

the Scottish budget document for the subsequent financial year; and

(b)

the medium term financial outlook.

(2)

The Commission must lay before the Scottish Parliament a report prepared under section 2(2) on each day on which—

(a)

the Scottish Ministers lay before the Parliament the Scottish budget document for the subsequent financial year; and

(b)

a member of the Scottish Government publishes the medium term financial outlook.

(3)

The Commission must lay any other report prepared under section 2(2) or a report prepared under section 2(4) or 4 before the Scottish Parliament as soon as reasonably practicable after the report is prepared.

(4)

Before laying a report prepared under section 2 or 4 before the Scottish Parliament, the Commission must send a copy of it to the Scottish Ministers (unless one has already been sent under subsection (1)).

(5)

Once a report prepared under section 2 or 4 has been laid before the Scottish Parliament, the Commission must publish it.

(6)

The Commission may publish reports prepared under section 2 or 4 in such manner as it considers appropriate.

F2(7)

In this section—

“5-year forecast” has the same meaning as in section 3(2) in respect of a report prepared under section 2(2);

“medium term financial outlook” means the Scottish Government’s rolling 5-year financial outlook document informed by 5-year forecasts; and

“Scottish budget document” means the Scottish Government’s budget document setting out proposals for the use of resources and associated matters in a financial year.