The National Assembly lowered the revenues target in a budget plan for next year to VND389.9 trillion (US$23 billion) Nov. 8.

The budget plan, which also proposed budget spending of VND491.3 trillion ($29 billion), was approved by 88.44 percent of deputies at a session Nov. 8.

The budget deficit of VND87.3 trillion ($5 billion), which accounts for 4.82 percent of the GDP, was also approved by the body.

NA Finance and Budget Committee Chairman Phung Quoc Hien also announced an increase in the basic salary, to take effect in May of 2009.

The NA resolution also introduced strict penalties against tax evasion and fraud, extended tax duties of some small and medium enterprises, and increased spending on social welfare and rural development.

The NA also approved a proposal to issue government bonds valued at VND36 trillion, with the revenues earmarked for investment in infrastructure.

NA deputies also took aim at the draft law on urban zoning at the session Nov. 8.

“Proposed urbanization projects often give environmental and socio-economic impact projections of only 10-15 years into the future, which is too short,” said deputy Hoang Van Toan of Vinh Phuc Province. “It should be doubled at least, or even extended to hundreds of years.”

Deputy Ngo Thi Doan Thanh of Hanoi agreed with the proposal to create the position of chief architect at the municipal and provincial levels. However, she said the chief architect should not sit on the provincial architectural boards.

“We should create the position in major cities only,” said deputy Nguyen Thi Nga of Hai Duong Province.

Deputy H’Luoc Ntor of Dak Lak Province also said the draft law should clarify the responsibilities of the chief architect and the architectural board.

NA deputies also called for broadening the scope of the draft law on state compensation, which governs how citizens are to be compensated upon suffering damages as a result of the actions of a government agency or employee.

“Civil servants who fail to complete proposed tasks and as a result cause damage to individuals or organizations should also compensate concerned parties,” said deputy Le Van Cuong of Thanh Hoa Province.

Deputy Le Thi Nguyet of Vinh Phuc Province said the draft law failed to address all the current problems in administrative procedures.

There should have also been proposals to penalize government agencies for damages caused by issuance of contradictory regulations, she said.

Vice Chairwoman of the NA Judicial Committee Le Thi Nga also criticized many items of the draft law, saying they were unfeasible and were even a step backward in comparison with current regulations.

Reported by Xuan Toan