Appropriation Period
The length of the appropriation period affects how appropriations are presented in the Estimates and Supplementary Estimates. Three kinds of appropriation can be distinguished on the basis of period - annual and multi-year (as referred to in the above table on types of output expense appropriations), and permanent:
- Annual Appropriations - Most appropriations listed in the Estimates and Supplementary Estimates allow expenses or capital expenditure to be incurred only during a particular financial year. The annual amounts, for which parliamentary authority is being sought, are shown in bold type in Details of Annual and Permanent Appropriations in the Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for each Vote. The amounts for RDAs and annual DDAs are forecasts only, and so are not shown in bold type.
- Multi-Year Appropriations (MYAs) - The PFA also permits appropriations that allow expenses or capital expenditure to be incurred during a specified period that spans the whole or parts of more than one financial year, but no more than five financial years. The details of each MYA, including its commencement date and expiry date, are specified in Details of Multi-Year Appropriations in the Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for relevant Votes.
- Permanent Appropriations (sometimes referred to as permanent legislative authorities or PLAs) -Permanent appropriations are authorised by legislation other than an Appropriation Act and continue in effect until revoked by Parliament. Generally the authorising legislation will impose limits on the scope of the appropriation and not its amount. For those appropriations that with limits set in cash terms, section 11(2) of the Public Finance Act 1989 requires that they be reported on an accrual basis. The usual legislative wording allows for expenses or capital expenditure to be incurred for the purpose specified in the legislation “without further appropriation than this section”. Details of permanent appropriations are included in Details of Annual and Permanent Appropriations in the Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for each Vote for completeness, though the amount specified is a forecast rather than a limit. The amounts of permanent appropriations are therefore not shown in bold type. The scope of a permanent appropriation will reference the relevant section of the authorising legislation.
