ANOTHER PLENARY WEEK OF THE EIGHTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION CONCLUDED ON FRIDAY, APRIL 8
First Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada Adam Martyniuk opened the morning plenary meeting, and reported on the results of work of The Verkhovna Rada at the plenary meetings on April 7.
The Chairman announced that members of the deputy factions suggested that the Government Question Hour should be devoted to listening to the report of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Social Policy S.Tihipko on the pension reform and extinguishment of wage arrears. As S.Tihipko is on a sick leave, the Cabinet of Ministers charged First Deputy Minister of Social Policy Vasyl Nadraha with delivering a report.
Members of the Cabinet of Ministers were present at the meeting.
The first question of the Communist Party of Ukraine faction concerned the wage arrears which totaled more than UAH 1 billion 200 million in the beginning of the year.
Vasyl Nadraha responded that the Government managed to control the situation. From March 1, 2010 to April 1, 2011, the wage arrears decreased from UAH billion 737 million to UAH 1 billion 216 million. Thus, the arrears were reduced by UAH 522 million or by 30%.
Our Ukraine-People´s Self-Defence Faction asked about the action taken by the Government to repay the wages to the workers-victims of industrial accidents.
V. Nadraha reported that the Government managed to repay these arrears.
The Government official also informed about the non-governmental pension schemes in Ukraine. He reminded that the system of non-governmental pension schemes had been introduced since January 1, 2004. As of the end of 2010, the number of participants of the non-governmental pension schemes reached 569 thousand 200 persons. The system has accumulated UAH 1 billion 144 million 300 thousand.
The Deputy Minister of Social Policy answered the written and oral queries of the People´s Deputies.
The Chairman read out the deputy inquiries.
Recess was announced at the request of BYuT-Batkivshchyna and Our Ukraine-People´s Self-Defense Factions.
Volodymyr Yavorivskyi, member of BYuT-Batkivshchyna Faction, declared, "Democracy in Ukraine is being scaled down; there are problems with the freedom of speech. However, the biggest concern is infliction of punishment on the opposition."
Another appeal of BYuT-Batkivshchyna Faction concerned the pressure of the organs of inquiry of the prosecution on the Union of Writers, and institution of proceedings against famous writers. The Faction declared that it would protect the Union of Writers from the lawlessness of the authorities.
The Chairman announced scrutiny of the bill on Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine" (re Familiarization of Accused and Defender with Materials of Case).
The bill was presented by Viktor Shvets, Chairman of the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement.
The People´s Deputies scrutinized amendments to the bill that have already been supported by the Committee. Having rejected all the amendments, parliamentarians adopted the bill in entirety by 263 votes in the first reading.
The bill on Amendments to the Law "On Joint-Stock Companies" and other Legislative Acts of Ukraine" (re Renewal of the Title of an Open Joint-Stock Company) was presented by Viacheslav Bohuslaev, People´s Deputy of Ukraine.
Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Economic Policy Oleksii Plotnikov reported on the Committee´s decision to recommend the Verkhovna Rada to adopt the bill as a basis.
The parliamentarians adopted the bill as a basis and in entirety.
In the end of the morning sitting, People´s Deputies read out their inquires and proposals.
The Chairman adjourned the plenary meeting.
On April 11-15, the People´s Deputies will work in the Committees, Panels and Factions.
On April 13, parliamentary hearings "On State Policy concerning Repayment and Compensation of the Lost (Depreciated) Deposits" will be held in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The next plenary meeting of the eighth session will be held on Tuesday, April 19.