One of the most far-reaching changes in the proposals presented to the committee by Nguyen Hoa Binh, Director General of the Viet Nam Supreme People's Procuracy, was to set up a new department that specialises in investigating certain cases involving legal activities and corruption.

The proposal also asked to maintain the current name, functions and tasks of the 12 units affiliated to the Supreme People's Procuracy, and to make some changes to the functions and names of a few departments including the Department of Planning and Finance.

Speaking at the meeting, Nguyen Van Hien, Head of the National Assembly Judiciary Committee, said they agreed on the need to issue resolutions adopted by the NA Standing Committee on the structure and personnel of the Supreme People's Procuracy to enable it to implement resolutions regarding the 2014 Law on Organisation of the Viet Nam Supreme People's Procuracy.

Commenting on the request for the prosecutorial agency's director general to have more deputies, Nguyen Sinh Hung said: "We should refer to Resolution 39 of the Party Politburo on the number of deputies in a government agency."

Meanwhile, the proposal to change the Institute of Science and Supervision to Legal and Supervision Control Department was rejected. Phan Xuan Dung, chairman of the NA Committee on Science, Technology and Environment , explained the rejection, saying up to 75 per cent of the work done by the department was advisory in nature, related to formulation of laws by the Supreme People's Procuracy.­­

Hydrometeorology

Lawmakers also discussed the draft Law on Hydrometeorology, which comprises 11 chapters and 61 articles.

Most deputies agreed that this draft law would be the legal base for the organisation and activities of hydrometeorological services, especially in preventing and fighting natural disasters, adapting to climate change and protecting people's safety and assets. This will contribute to sustainable socio-economic development and to national defense and security, they said.

NA Deputy chairman Uong Chu Luu said the draft law's articles should be in line with some international conventions and treaties Viet Nam has signed, as well as other domestic laws on Environmental Protection, Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Water Resources and other areas.

So, the drafting board should review and specify the draft law to ensure its conformity with the legal system, he said.

Regarding articles related to socialisation of hydrometeorological services, many deputies suggested that the drafting board should make them more specific and practical in order to mobilize domestic and international resources in modernising weather forecast activities.

NA deputy chairman Huynh Ngoc Son and some deputies said the draft law should define the responsibilities of individuals and organisations when wrong forecasts or warnings cause serious damage to people's life.

Deputies also agreed that the draft law can be submitted to the ninth session of the National Assembly that opens on May 20.

Deputies also discussed yesterday the establishment of new towns in the southern provinces of Tra Vinh, Hau Giang and Bac Lieu and in the northern province of Thai Nguyen; as well as the formation of a new district in the southern province of Binh Phuoc. 

VNS