Section 4 Main duty of OfficeI1

(1)

It is the duty of the Office to examine and report on the sustainability of the public finances.

(2)

The duty imposed F1on the Office by this section includes, in particular, the duties imposed by subsections (3) and (4) F2and section 4A.

(3)

The Office must, on at least two occasions for each financial year, prepare—

(a)

fiscal and economic forecasts, F3...

(b)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)

It must also, on at least one occasion for each financial year, prepare—

F4(za)

an assessment of the extent to which the fiscal mandate has been, or is likely to be, achieved,

(a)

an assessment of the accuracy of fiscal and economic forecasts previously prepared by it, and

(b)

an analysis of the sustainability of the public finances.

(5)

Any forecast, assessment or analysis prepared by the Office under subsection (3) or (4) must be included in a report.

(6)

Any report which the Office makes in pursuance of its duty under this section must include an explanation of the factors which the Office took into account when preparing the report, including (in particular)—

(a)

the main assumptions made by the Office, and

(b)

the main risks which the Office considered to be relevant.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in s. 4(2) inserted (15.10.2024) by Budget Responsibility Act 2024 (c. 24), ss. 1(2)(a), 2(2); S.I. 2024/1026, reg. 2
F2: Words in s. 4(2) inserted (15.10.2024) by Budget Responsibility Act 2024 (c. 24), ss. 1(2)(b), 2(2); S.I. 2024/1026, reg. 2
F3: S. 4(3)(b) and word omitted (for the financial year beginning with April 2025 and subsequent financial years) by virtue of Finance Act 2026 (c. 11), s. 254(1)(a)(3)
F4: S. 4(4)(za) inserted (for the financial year beginning with April 2025 and subsequent financial years) by Finance Act 2026 (c. 11), s. 254(1)(b)(3)

Commencement

I1: S. 4 in force at 4.4.2011 by S.I. 2011/892, Sch. 2