PLENARY WEEK OF THE NINTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION CONCLUDED ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn opened the morning plenary meeting. He informed that Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov and members of the Cabinet of Ministers were present at the plenary meeting.
The chairman briefed on the results of work of the Verkhovna Rada at the plenary meetings on October 6.
V. Lytvyn reminded that the Government Question Hour is held every Friday in the plenary weeks. Representatives of the deputy factions suggested that during the Government Question Hour the Cabinet of Ministers should report on support of rights of socially vulnerable groups of population.
Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Social Policy Serhii Tihipko answered the questions.
The BYuT-Batkivshchyna faction asked how S. Tihipko is personally implementing the program of the president of Ukraine.
The government official responded that no social standards have been or will be cut down during the activity of the acting government. "Increase of social standards has been a priority for the acting government since the very first day of its work. The standards started to grow in 2010, continued to increase in 2011, and the draft state budget for 2012 also envisages their rise," he informed.
S. Tihipko informed about the dynamics of growth of the minimum subsistence level. Thus, for 2008-2009, the minimum subsistence level increased by 19,9%, for 2010-2011, by 47,6%. "Decrease of social standards is out of the question," he stressed.
The Party of Regions faction asked the Minister of Social Policy: how is the government going to cover the arrears in wages taken over from the previous government?
S. Tihipko responded that for a year and a half, the acting government managed to reduce the arrears by UAH 667,8 million or 40%. "One serious problem which impedes reimbursement of all arrears is enterprises in default. Such enterprises account for almost half of the total arrears in wages. To tackle this issue, the government brought forward the bill on bankruptcy which fixes tight deadlines and strengthens responsibility of all participants of the bankruptcy proceedings. Adoption of this law will help reduce arrears in wages," the government official stated.
The Communist Party of Ukraine faction asked: what are the predicted guarantees of social payments and aids, and what privileges for public utility services can the state provide?
S. Tihipko reminded that the bill under Reg. No. 9127 does not envisage decrease of the level of social standards. He cited the following figures of the budget expenditures for the benefits, guarantees, and compensations: in 2011, from UAH 5,2 billion to UAH 7 billion, in 2012 - UAH 7,4 billion, including UAH 5,2 billion for benefits, and UAH 2,2 billion for subsidies.
People´s Deputy O. Hudyma addressed Prime Minister M. Azaroass media informed that the Chornomornaftohaz company, an affiliated company of the Naftohaz, bought drilling machines at the enormous prices. He stated that national interests of the state sustained losses. O. Hudyma asked, "Next year the authorities and the opposition might change places. Is the Prime Minister M. Azarov ready to go to prison?"
Prime Minister M. Azarov responded, "Naftohaz company buys as much gas as Ukrainian economy requires for winter."
People´s Deputy Ya. Sukhyi asked S. Tihipko about the labour code.
S. Tihipko agreed that a barely modified labour legislation of the 70s is a problem for the state. According to him, the government tried to solve this problem, but failed to reach a compromise. "After negotiations with the employers we concluded that the variant appropriate for the trade unions is not suitable for the employers. However, we will find the compromise soon, and adopt the Labor Code by the New Year. On the one hand, we shall protect the workers, but on the other hand we shall find some solution to help the employers to hire employees for the temporary works. It will make our legislation more flexible and will eliminate the shadow sector of economy and unemployment," the Deputy Prime Minister stated.
Ivan Kyrylenko, Head of the BYuT-Batkivshchyna faction, reminded that on October 11, the court proceedings against Yulia Tymoshenko will be terminated. He announced that the court prohibited citizens and journalists to be present in the courtroom.
I. Kyrylenko asked the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine: "When the Verkhovna Rada shall be a parliament instead of being a mechanism for voting? We have the decision of the specialized committee which reads: "Under the Constitution of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine "On the Status of People´s Deputy", People´s Deputies of the current convocation have the right to visit any bodies of the state power and local self-government, and have free access to all enterprises, institutions, and organizations situated in the territory of Ukraine irrespective of their subordination, property forms, or secrecy order." So what about parliamentary supervision over the observance of the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine, especially in the part of human rights and rights of the People´s Deputies in particular?"
The chairman read out the deputies´ inquiries.
The bill "On Amendments to the Clause 9 of the Law of Ukraine" On State Budget of Ukraine for 2011" (regarding specification of provisions) was presented by S. Rybak, Deputy Minister of Finance.
The bill was adopted in entirety.
The bill "On Adoption of the Export Duty Rates on Separate Kinds of Agricultural Plants" was presented by Hryhorii Kaletnik, People´s Deputy of Ukraine.
The bill was adopted as a basis and in entirety.
Ihor Prasolov, People´s Deputy of Ukraine, presented the bill on amendments to the Law "On Promoting Development of Domestic Agricultural Machine Building" (re favourable treatment of domestic machine building enterprises).
The parliamentarians upheld the bill in the first reading by 247 votes.
The People´s Deputies scrutinized the bill on amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Proceedings regarding strengthening of responsibility for certain law infringements. It was presented by Valerii Bevz, People´s Deputy of Ukraine.
The bill was adopted as a basis by 263 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada passed the Resolution "On setting up a Temporary Inquiry Panel to investigate Circumstances which caused the Situation on Indar Close Joint-Stock Company."
The parliamentarians read out their declarations, announcements, and proposals.
The chairman adjourned the morning sitting.
On October 10-14, the People´s Deputies work in the committees and factions.
The next plenary meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 18.