ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, ANOTHER PLENARY WEEK OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION ENDED
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak having opened the morning meeting, informed that members of the Cabinet of Ministers headed by the First Vice Prime Minister S.Arbuzov participated in the meeting.
The Chairman reminded that the Government Question Hour is held every plenary Friday. Representatives of the deputies’ factions suggested listen to the information of the Cabinet of Ministers on execution of Sate budget for 2013, on main principles of forming the draft of the State budget for 2014, on measures taken to overcome the consequences of the flood fallout in Odesa and other Ukrainian regions. Deputies’ factions informed the Cabinet of Ministers about their questions to the government in advance in written form.
The First Deputy Minister of Finance Anatolii Maiarkovskyi opened the Government Question Hour. He reminded that the Cabinet of Ministers prepared and submitted for the consideration of the Verkhovna Rada the draft law on the State budget for 2014. However, there are several factors, independent of government, that have considerable influence on forming the figures of the State budget for 2014.
The government official also informed that after the government approved the raft law, negotiations that are essential to the balance of payment and development of the priority state sectors and decrease subsidies of the housing and communal services were conducted. The government decided to recommit bill on State budget of Ukraine for 2014 taking into account the above mentioned factors.
A.Maiarkovskyi noted that in the draft law approved by the government, macro indicators, included to the project of the Basic budget policy for 2014, were used.
The government official stressed that instability of the world economy influences Ukrainian economy and its future perspectives. He also informed about the measures being taken by the government concerning improvement of social standards and payment of salaries in the current year.
A.Maiarkovskyi said that the government has no reasons to amend the Law “On the State budget of Ukraine for 2013” re spending reduction as the budget is being executed.
The official noted that the government is refining the draft budget for 2014, the respective plan-schedule of the ministries and authorities work has been elaborated.
Chairman of the State of Emergency Service Mykhaivo Bolotskyh informed the people’s deputies about the measures taken for overcoming flood fallout in Odesa and other Ukrainian regions. He said that as a result of timely taken measures, the situation in Odesa Oblast has stabilized. He also said that the President of Ukraine on September 13 entrusted the government to take respective measures. The government commission headed by the Vice Prime Minister Yu.Boiko was formed.
M.Bolotskyh said that over the next five days it will be raining in most parts of Ukraine. He informed that the State of Emergency Service is carrying out the plan on preventing the possible consequences of the situation.
Members of the government answered all the oral questions of the people’s deputies.
Most of the questions were addressed to the First Vice Prime Minister S.Arbuzov and concerned the issue of executing the current State budget. The questions also concerned the topic of what will the State budget for 2014 be like and what macro indicators will it include?
S.Arbuzov was certain that the execution of the State budget for 2013 would get better till the end of 2013.
The First Vice Prime Minister also answered the parliamentarians’ questions on late payment of unemployment benefits, not implementing other social programs. He informed that there is no indebtedness in the budget sphere and all the payments are made on time.
The First Vice Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ihor Kalietnik announced deputies’ inquiries.
The people’s deputies considered two bills on the probation service.
People’s deputy Viktor Shvets reported on the first bill. He said that the bill is aimed at creation of the probation system in Ukraine and respective public structure (probation service). According to him, the bill suggests harmonize the criminal, criminal procedure, criminal and penal legislation of Ukraine with the European standards.
The people’s deputy justified the necessity of adopting the law stating that the probation service all over the world has become an integral element of penal justice system while in Ukraine the probation system and the respective public structure are absent.
The First Deputy Minister of Justice Inna Yemelianova announced the alternative bill, suggested by the Cabinet of Ministers. She stressed that the key aspect of the bill is formation of the probation service. She also said that it is suggested to introduce three types of probation: prejudicial, supervisory and penal.
I.Yemelianova said that adoption of this law will help reduce the number of people sentenced to punishment in the form of restriction of liberty or imprisonment for a certain term, reduce state spending for maintenance of detention units and facilities for execution of judgments, reduce the level of recidivism.
The Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement Volodymyr Oliinyk informed about the Committee’s decision to recommend the Verkhovna Rada to adopt as a basis the government bill and to reject the bill of the people’s deputy V.Shvets using its provisions for the preparation of the government bill to the second hearing.
After the discussion of the bills, the Chairman said that the will not be any voting for the bills as there are not enough people’s deputies to make the decision.
Volodymyr Rybak said that by the court’s decision the people’s deputy Ihor Markov is deprived of his deputy’s mandate. He also said that the Central Electoral Commission should take action to organize and hold re-elections in the electoral district No. 133.
According to him, the court’s decision is mandatory on the territory of Ukraine.
The people’s deputies announced their inquiries, messages and proposals.
The Chairman adjourned the plenary meeting.
On September 23-27 the people’s deputies will work with the voters.
During the period from September 30 till October 4 the parliamentarians will work in committees, commissions and factions.
The next plenary meeting of the second session will be held on Tuesday, October 8.