National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân delivers speech at a session of the NA's Standing Committee in Hà Nội. — Photo quochoi.vn

HÀ NỘI — The 13th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee continued its 50th session yesterday,  mapping out supervision and lawmaking programmes for 2017. 

Committee members agreed that the NA and its Standing Committee’s supervisory activities this year had been in line with the reality of the country and basically met voters’ expectations. The supervision focused on pressing issues that have considerable impact on national socio-economic development, participants said. 

NA Vice Chairwoman Tòng Thị Phóng noted supervision over the promulgation of legal normative documents was among the most ineffective supervised matters of the parliament, as seen in the absence of documents guiding the enforcement of some laws. 
In the 14th tenure, which will begin in late July, the NA should pay more heed to this issue, she added. 

The NA Standing Committee agreed that for 2017, the parliament would supervise the implementation of policies and laws on food quality, safety and hygiene management, and administrative reforms. The Committee will also examine the execution of policies and laws on the investment in and operation of transport facilities in the build-operate-transfer (BOT) format, along with those on fishermen and sea-based economic development.

A report delievered at the meeting said the draft law on demonstration was up for debate at the 13th NA’s 11th session. However, as it is a complex law that needs more time to be drafted, it will not be included in the law making programme in 2017.

The report also said  the 13th NA’s law and ordinance making programme consisted of 158 draft laws and ordinances, including the draft revised Constitution, 136 draft laws and codes, three draft resolutions of the NA, 15 draft ordinances and three draft resolutions of the Standing Committee. 

In the 13th tenure (from 2011 to 2016), the parliament adopted the 2013 Constitution, 107 laws and codes, and one resolution. Its Standing Committee approved nine ordinances and three resolutions. 

Most of the remaining drafts have been included in the 2016 programme or suggested for inclusion in the 2017 agenda. 
Committee members also pointed out shortcomings, such as the excessive number of drafts on the agenda causing an overload for lawmakers, vague regulations in some draft laws, and law enforcement’s dependence on guidance documents. — VNS