On the afternoon of May 23, continuing the program of the 5th Session, the Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee of the National Assembly, Le Quang Manh, presented a report explaining, incorporating and revising the draft Price Law (amended). At the same time, the National Assembly is deliberating on this draft law.

Earlier, at the 4th session, the National Assembly discussed in the group and in the hall the project on the price law (amended). Based on the summary of the delegates’ opinions, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly instructed the Finance and Budget Committee to coordinate with the drafting authority and relevant authorities to examine the law, seek opinions and amend it. Complete the draft law.

Include pork and milk for the elderly in PRICE LIST STABLE

On the issue of price stabilization, most opinions suggested compliance with the provisions of the current law. Accordingly, it is necessary to clearly define price stabilization products in the law. If there is a need for adjustment, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly should be tasked with examining and making a decision. Some comments suggest putting the government in charge of regulating the list of price stabilization items. Some comments suggest adding certain goods and services to the price stabilization list.

The Finance and Budget Committee emphasized that price is an issue that directly affects every person and every company and is related to market stability. Therefore, it should be specified in the law in order to create publicity and transparency, in particular to avoid abuse to expand the range of products subject to price stabilization and to limit the intervention of the administrative authority. The state on the law of supply and demand; Ensuring legal certainty and stability and supporting companies and individuals trading in price-stabilized products in developing appropriate business strategies. By specifying the list of price stabilization products in the law, the situation of the “framework law, pipe law” will also be overcome.

In order to ensure flexibility and timeliness, the current price law also stipulates that if the list of price stabilization products needs to be adjusted, the government must submit it to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for consideration and decision. Therefore, in order to remain faithful to the functions and tasks of the elected bodies and to ensure the publicity and transparency of the policy, while ensuring flexibility, timeliness and practicability compared to the draft law presented, at the 4th session of the National Parliament compliance with the Principles of Public Administration Ensures Assembly, the draft law has been revised and completed in order to comply with the provisions of the law in force.

Accordingly, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly instructed the Finance and Budget Committee to coordinate with the agency in the drafting and amending of the Annex Governing Price Stabilization Products. The Finance and Budget Committee has coordinated with the Editorial Board and relevant ministries, branches and agencies to review and evaluate the list of price stabilization goods and services.

Accordingly, the current price law provides for 11 goods and services. By reviewing and evaluating the implementation in the past period and in comparison with the criteria in Paragraph 1, Article 17 of the draft law: are, however, essential goods and services; Some items have a great impact on people’s socio-economic development, production, business and life, and are no longer suitable.

For electrical equipment currently on the list of goods and services specified by the government (including retail and wholesale prices and at the stages of generation and transmission…). The setting of prices and price adjustments is done by the government agency in charge of setting prices, and therefore basically covers the goals of price stability, the impact on the lives of people and businesses, and the plan itself. business of electricity companies. Therefore, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly asked the National Assembly to remove this item from the price stabilization list.

The comments of some delegates suggested adding milk for the elderly and pork (pork) to the list of goods and services for price stabilization, to ensure that the facility works in all cases and meets the needs of customers. practical requirements. Through the review, these items meet the criteria for price stabilization goods and services set out in the bill. Therefore, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly has asked the National Assembly to allow the inclusion of this item in the Price Stabilization List.

The National Assembly will consider the decision on price-stabilized items.

Regarding the delisted electronic products, Delegates Nguyen Quoc Luan and Doan Yen Bai said Schedule 1, which was issued along with the draft law, listed goods and services for price stabilization, which included ten types of goods. However, the service does not include the electricity price. Electricity prices are set out in Appendix 2 to the List of Government-Regulated Goods and Services.

Delegates noted that electricity prices should be included in the Annex to the List of Price Stabilization Goods and Services, as they are essential goods and services directly related to people’s life, production and business activities. of organizations and companies that have a major impact on society. Economy, production and business and people’s lives.

The delegates analyze and practice the past time and show that this commodity has only increased and not decreased. However, the increase in electricity prices is still not enough to cover the costs, resulting in large losses in the electricity industry, causing cash flow imbalances and many consequences. Therefore, it is more reasonable for the Luan delegate to propose that this type of commodities should be adopted by relevant state agencies to implement price stabilization solutions and measures and be included in the list.

With the same view, delegates Pham Van Hoa and Doan Dong Thap proposed adding price-stabilizing goods and services to the list instead of being priced by the state as it is an essential item that all people need.

Delegate Hoa agreed to maintain the Oil Price Stabilization Fund, but said that it is not appropriate to entrust companies to manage the fund, and that it should be entrusted to the Treasury to manage it. The delegate also suggested setting a point in time when the petrol price stabilization fund should no longer be kept market-economy compatible.

In addition, the delegate said that in order to minimize the intervention of state bodies, it was necessary to establish the list of price stabilization in the law; if necessary, submit to the Standing Committee for a decision on amending this list.

Ho Chi Minh City Union delegate Pham Khanh Phong Lan said: “This list is not really convincing.” Meanwhile, the Covid-19 epidemic shows that rice, fish sauce, groceries … are essential. Therefore, specifying which items to open in the gallery is not recommended.

“For a number of price-stabilizing commodities, the bill proposes that the National Assembly decide on price-stabilizing commodities. In the event of fluctuations, the government will submit them to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for the implementation of the regulation. review and decision.

Electricity prices have been included in the list of government regulated goods and services. This benefits consumers.

Regarding the Oil Price Stabilization Fund, the minister noted the need to maintain this fund and stated that he would seek the opinions of delegates in order to issue specific regulations on this content.