Explanatory Notes

Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011

2011 CHAPTER 4

22 March 2011

Commentary on Sections and Schedules

Schedule 1: Office for Budget Responsibility

Paragraph 1: Membership

92.The members appointed under sub-paragraph (1) will together constitute the Office.

93.Sub-paragraph (1)(a) sets out that one member shall chair the Office. The Chair will be appointed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and this appointment can only be made with the consent of the Treasury Select Committee of the House of Commons (the “TSC”).

94.Sub-paragraph (1)(b) sets out that there will be two other members of the Office who will be appointed by the Chancellor. These appointments can only be made with the consent of the TSC. These appointments will be made by the Chancellor after consultation with the Chair of the Office.

95.Sub-paragraph (1)(c) sets out that no fewer than two members should be appointed by the Chancellor from individuals nominated by the Office. These members will assume the role of non-executives in the Office’s governance (“non-executive members”).

96.Sub-paragraph (2) requires that the Chair of the Office and the two members appointed by the Chancellor under sub-paragraph (1)(b) (“expert members”) have knowledge or experience likely to be relevant to performance of the Office’s main duty under section 4. Together, the three expert members will constitute the Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC) (see paragraph 9) and will have an executive responsibility for performing the Office’s main duty under section 4. The knowledge or experience required for performing these duties may include, for example, experience in economics, fiscal forecasting or analysis. In practice, such requirements may be set out in the candidate criteria for appointment.