"Vedomosti": "Age-old Questions to Prime Minister"
Russian MPS articulate questions to Prime Minister Putin
Yesterday each State Duma party submitted to the Duma Organisation and Regulation Committee three questions for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, which he is supposed to answer when delivering an annual report to the Duma. The date of the Prime Minister's address was pushed back from April 2 to April 6.
The Communists were the first to draw up a list of questions - they were ready with them Thursday. The Communist Party wonders what the Government is doing to avert energy and utility rate increases; why the Government is reluctant to support ordinary people during the crisis by cutting the property tax on gardens and by introducing free medical care and hot meals in schools. In addition, the Communists would like to know whether Prime Minister Putin is aware that VTB, Sberbank and Gazprombank have spent 1.5 trillion roubles which was allocated for the support of Russian industry, on buying their own shares and currency, and whether the Prime Minister is going to reclaim these funds.
According to the press service of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), Lib Dems are also concerned about utility rates; they wonder whether the Government is planning to freeze natural monopoly rates. The LDPR worries about the future of the companies which received loans to purchase equipment and which have found themselves on the verge of bankruptcy. Also, the party would like to know what will happen with the Law on Trade, which facilitates access to the Russian market for domestic products.
A Just Russia would like to inquire about its law-making and anti-recessionary initiatives. In particular, according to MP Ivan Grachyov, the party is going to ask about savings banks and setting a limit of 10% of a household's aggregate income for utility payments. A Just Russia will also ask the Prime Minister whether the Government supports the idea of a social justice charter, which this party proposed (according to this concept, the companies that receive state support must vow not to lay off staff or increase prices).
According to a source in United Russia, this party would like to touch on tightening up discipline in the Government (United Russia believes some by-laws are drafted too late). This party is also going to find out whether science intensive enterprises will be offered preference and whether the Government is going to take additional measures to counter unemployment.
Head of the Duma Organisation and Regulation Committee Otari Arshba says that the Duma Council will approve the questions and submit them to the Government. Secretary of United Russia's General Council Presidium Vyacheslav Volodin stated that Prime Minister Putin has already received United Russia's questions.
By Natalya Kostenko
