NA Secretary General and Chairman of the NA Office, Nguyễn Hạnh Phúc. – Photo vietnamnet.vn

HÀ NỘI – National Assembly deputies will now be allowed to debate ministers directly on the latter’s presentations and answers.

The new development in parliamentary proceedings was announced yesterday by NA Secretary General and Chairman of the NA Office, Nguyễn Hạnh Phúc.

Briefing the press on the sidelines of the second meeting of the 14th legislature in Hà Nội, Phúc said that after the ministers conclude their presentations, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the sector or field would add their comments on the issue.

The final answers to issues raised by deputies would be given by the Prime Minister, Phúc added.

The ministers of Industry and Trade, Natural Resources and Environment, Education and Training, and Home Affairs are set to appear at the upcoming National Assembly (NA)’s question and answer session scheduled to last two and a half days from November 15-17.
On specific issues to be raised during the Q&A session, Vice Chairman of the NA Office, Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, said the Minister of Industry and Trade will be asked about the causes of failed or delayed projects, the responsibility of people in charge, as well as follow up measures.
The minister is also expected to face questions about multi-level marketing, retail networks in the context of regional and international integration, and the fight against fake, smuggled and low-quality products.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment is expected to talk about the implementation of policies and laws regarding environmental management in industrial and service facilities, craft villages and residential areas.
He is to explain the responsibility of ministries, agencies, organisations and individuals for polluting projects, management of environmental pollution settlements, climate change responses and the exploitation of natural resources and minerals.
The deputies are set to ask questions about educational reforms, the quality of tertiary education and changes to the high school graduation exam and the university entrance exam in the coming five years.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Home Affairs will be asked about State employee management, salary changes and promotion policies, ways to improve public workers’ performance and improvement of public services.

Resolutions approved

In yesterday’s afternoon session, the NA adopted a resolution on exemptions and reductions in annual agriculture land use tax with 81.34 per cent of the deputies voting in favour.

The tax exemption will apply to households and individuals allotted agricultural land by the State; households and individuals who are members of co-operatives in agricultural production; and households and individuals who’ve contributed their land for the establishment of agricultural production co-operatives.

The exemption period will run from 2017 until the end of 2020.

The NA adopted another resolution on the State budget estimate for 2017 with 79.31 per cent of votes.

The total State budget collection is estimated at more than VNĐ1,200 trillion (US$54.5 billion) while the total spending will be over VNĐ1,390 trillion ($63.1 billion), making the budget deficit account for 3.5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). 
 

Discussion on laws

In yesterday’s discussions many NA deputies agreed that some clauses of the 2005 Railway Law, which took effect on January 1, 2006, have proven problematic and inadequate for current and future development of the sector.

They said it was of utmost importance that the Railway Law is amended to meet current development demands.

They noted that the railway infrastructure is degraded and outdated. While most countries were using tracks that are 1.435 metres wide (broad gauge), Việt Nam was still using 1m-wide tracks (metre gauge).

Furthermore, information technology had not been applied in most of the sector’s management and operation activities, the deputies said.

Deputy Nguyễn Văn Thể of Sóc Trăng Province said draft amendments to the law, submitted to the NA, had very few incentives for catalyzing growth of the railway sector.

"Transparency and clear policies are important to attract investment to the sector," Thể said.

Sharing his opinions, many deputies proposed adding more content to the amendments, especially on attracting private investment, encouraging fair competition, and improving the current railway infrastructure.

The NA also discussed the draft Law on Technology Transfer. — VNS