A Bill To authorise the use of resources for the years ending with 31 March 2014, 31 March 2015 and 31 March 2016; to authorise the issue of sums out of the Consolidated Fund for the years ending with 31 March 2015 and 31 March 2016; and to appropriate the supply authorised by this Act for the years ending with 31 March 2014 and 31 March 2015.
<p>The Bill provides Parliamentary authority for funds requested by the Government. It is part of 'supply procedure', which is how Parliament grants the Government’s requests for resources. Proceedings on the Bill are formal: there is no debate and the Bill goes through 'on the nod'.</p><p>This type of Bill was previously known as the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill.</p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>authorises the release of money from the Consolidated Fund, which is the Government’s bank account</li><li>places limits on the purposes for which the money may be spent.</li></ul>