PLENARY WEEK OF THE SIXTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION CONCLUDED ON FRIDAY, 4 JUNE
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, briefed on the results of work of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine at the plenary meetings on 3 June.
The Chairman reminded that pursuant to the Law "On the Standing Orders", the Government Question Hour shall be held on Friday at 10.00-11.00. Representatives of the non-coalition deputy factions suggested that the coming Government Question Hour be dedicated to the issues of entrepreneurship development in Ukraine.
Serhii Tihipko, Deputy Prime Minister of Economic Policy, responded to the written inquiries of the BYuT Faction.
Representatives of the BYuT Faction requested to comment on the mass groundless return of the VAT declarations from the Tax Revenue Service with a demand to redraft them and leave out the due extra reimbursement of tax credit.
S.Tihipko admitted the problem and stated that "the Tax Revenue Service initiated it to prevent tax evasion." The government member stated that the Council of Entrepreneurs was held on 21 May to discuss this issue with the tax officers.
The People´s Deputies asked the following question: how can the Deputy Prime Minister account for the establishment of a zero VAT rate on the imported natural gas, while the sale of the most important foodstuffs and utility services is subject to full VAT rate?
S.Tihipko gave the following response: "Gas import operations shall be taxed under the general rules, the 20-per-cent tax rate being applied. Thus, in case of domestic consumption, this tax shall be administered on a regular basis. The point is that the VAT on import shall not be administered by the import of gas produced abroad."
S.Tihipko also responded to the questions covering the possibility of obtaining extra loans from the IMF; situation with Illyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol, especially purchase of the works by the off-shore companies; means taken by the Government to restore full-fledged youth real-estate loans and decrease the mortgage interest; influence of the financial crisis on the influx of investments to Ukraine.
The Chairman read out the deputy inquiries.
The parliamentarians discussed the issue on the budget policy for 2011. The fundamentals of the budget policy for 2011 were presented by Fedir Yaroshko, Minister of Finance of Ukraine. Representatives of all the deputy factions participated in the discussion of the fundamentals of the budget policy for 2011. The People´s Deputies expressed remarks regarding the resolution.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the resolution by 249 votes.
The draft resolution on provision of the legislation obedience in the sphere of the culture and sports (re prevention of the destruction of Sevastopol city stadium) was presented by Vadym Kolesnichenko, People´s Deputy of Ukraine.
The People´s Deputy suggested transferring the stadium into the municipal ownership, returning it into the state property.
The People´s Deputies upheld the initiative of Vadym Kolesnichenko. They also pointed out that there are other sports establishments with similar problems. The parliamentarians suggested provision of the legislation on the part of the local self-government bodies and implementation of the parliamentary supervision.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the resolution with certain specifications regarding the terms of the suggested actions to be taken.
Adam Martyniuk, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, announced the termination of the activity of the Temporary Inquiry Panel of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine set up to investigate the observance of the laws during the reconstruction of Olimpiyskiy Sports Complex.
The parliamentarians scrutinized two bills regarding the legislative improvement of the activity of the medical specialists: on amendments to clause 10 of the Law "On Fundamentals of the Legislation of Ukraine on Public Health" (re the citizens obligations in the sphere of health protection) and on amendments to clause 77 of the Law "On Fundamentals of the Public Health in Ukraine" (re medical and medical-psychological aid to the medical specialists).
In the results of the scrutiny, both bills were rejected.
In the end of the morning sitting the People´s Deputies read out their appeals, motions and announcements.
On 7-11 June, the parliamentarians will be working in the committees, commissions and factions.
The parliamentary hearings "Introduction of a twelve-year compulsory secondary education in Ukraine: problems and ways of their solutions" shall be held in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 9 June.
The next plenary meeting of the sixth session shall be held on Tuesday, 15 June.