VietNamNet Bridge – Lawmakers yesterday passed the State budget allocation resolution with an 89.45 per cent approval.

A view of the Quynh Son resettlement village in Hat Lot Commune, Mai Son District in the northern mountainous province of Son La. Infrastructure development for poor areas is a priority in the allocation of the State budget.

It orders ministries, central agencies and local authorities to seriously maintain thrift in spending and cut down on unnecessary costs. They have been asked specifically to hold back on seminars, festivals and unnecessary trips abroad.

The Government is being asked to scrutinise capital allotment for infrastructure projects and to prioritise capital for essential construction projects that could be operational by 2009 or early 2010. It was also ordered not to disburse funds to projects whose required procedures were incomplete.

The policymakers asked all state organisations with overdue construction debts to list the debts in their 2009 revenue-spending estimates and pay them soonest so as not to incur more debt.

The NA resolution states clearly that leaders of state organisations at all levels must be responsible for management and spending violations of the State budget.

Lawmakers proposed that the Government increase investment in agricultural projects and rural development. They also wanted to prioritise hydraulic works, clean water, transportation and roads. There is additional focus on aquaculture, vocational training and funds for poor households and students.

NA delegates asked the Government to disburse capital to improve the Ha Noi - Hai Phong - Lao Cai railroad, and increase capital for the North-South express railway and border infrastructure. Provisions for compensation to commercial banks that grant preferential loans under the Government’s instruction were also part of the resolution.

The capital for a project that provides electric lines for communes in five Central Highlands provinces will also be disbursed.

Criminal records draft

National Assembly delegates yesterday also expressed their concern over the feasibility of the draft Law on Criminal Records.

Most of the deputies proposed that the Government and NA not enforce this law at present. Nguyen Dang Trung from HCM City said the management sphere for the draft law alone is not realistic. Criminal records generally serve citizen interest and do not assist with investigations or judgement.

The draft law also mentions the necessity to set up a body to manage criminal records which are currently under management of courts.

According to Ho Trong Vu, deputy of Ninh Thuan Province, the adoption of the law would be costly. He also noted that the establishment of the criminal record managing body would make the legislative mechanism more cumbersome.

“NA should not spare too much time discussing the black records of citizens. Who needs this information? It’s only important for people participating in elections or going abroad,” said Tran Dinh Nha from Ba Ria-Vung Tau. He asked the NA to vote for promulgation of the law or not so that they could move on.

Delegate Tran Thi Hoa from Lang Son Province said a law should only be issued when it is feasible, cost-effective and does not cause great disorder.

To make the draft law realistic, Hoa asked the Government to issue a decree prior to enforcing the law.

Many deputies also raised their voices over the sentence records elimination.

Ngo Thi Nam from Dong Thap Province noted that giving the criminal record centre the power to eradicate someone’s sentence record is incompatible with the Law on Criminal Procedure.

“Under the current law, only courts are authorised to wipe records. Empowering another body to do the same task would result in an overlap,” she said.

Many delegates also opposed the authorisation of commune People’s Committees the power to examine and decrease sentences.

Regarding the establishment of a new criminal records database, Vu Thi May from Ha Giang said that the public security ministry has had a comprehensive database since 1955.

In agreement with May, Ngo Duc Manh from Binh Phuoc Province said that an article defining the transference of the database from public security agencies to legislative body should be issued.

Delegates agreed to appoint public security agencies as manager of criminal records.

NA debates draft Law

The National Assembly yesterday debated the draft Law on Representative Offices of Viet Nam in Foreign Countries.

Most deputies at the meet said they agreed with the Government’s report on the draft law as well as the examination report by the NA’s Committee for External Relations.

But they asked the law compiling board not to cover press agencies within the law.

NA deputy Ha Minh Hue city from the central province of Binh Thuan said press agencies were not State management offices, but for journalism.

The NA members also discussed names, personnel, conditions for establishment, salary and subsidiary conditions for the offices.

Deputy Pham Thi Loan of Ha Noi said administration at the offices should be managed by embassies.

Deputy Ngo Quang Xuan from Dong Thap Province said the offices should have one leader each, so the office can bring into play their strengths and potentials.

Deputy Duong Trung Quoc from Dong Nai Province said the offices had to represent Viet Nam in both function and appearance, so they could reflect Vietnamese culture and give foreign friends a good impression of the country.

Quoc also mentioned security issues for these offices abroad.

Today deputies will hear ministries answer their questions. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Pham Khoi Nguyen is scheduled to take the platform first and will be followed by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat.

(Source: Viet Nam News)