There should be no loss or waste in arranging public investment from reserve sources

	Numerous factors behind the non-allocation of over VND 17.6 trillion in public investment capital
	Completing site clearance and accelerating disbursement of public investment in key transportation projects

National Assembly delegates attended the session.

The Government has submitted to the National Assembly permission to use VND 18,220 billion in general reserves from the central budget source of the Medium-term Public Investment Plan for the period 2021-2025, corresponding to the increase in central budget revenue in 2023, for 14 public investment projects.

National Assembly delegates all expressed their agreement with the Government's proposal, but in addition, delegates suggested that public investment resources need to pay attention to some areas that still have many limitations.

Delegate Phan Thi Nguyet Thu (Ha Tinh delegation) said that the resolutions of the Party and the National Assembly all stated that the Government is responsible for allocating funds to invest in facilities, headquarters, and equipment, working facilities for the People's Court, perform assigned tasks well, prioritize timely allocation of funds for the People's Court and relevant agencies to effectively organize online trials and projects that have been approved.

Although the Government and the National Assembly have paid great attention recently, the Supreme People's Court's reports on developing medium-term public investment plans for the period 2016-2020 and 2021-2025 have recommended more than 9,000 billion VND to invest in building new headquarters, but because the public investment capital allocated by the National Assembly for the people's court system was cut, the projects have not been invested in, compared to the proposed estimate, the allocated capital only meets about 45% of the need.

The delegate said that according to the requirements, all levels of courts must arrange at least one courtroom for each type of case, but according to current survey results, in the people's court system, there are still many offices built in the 1990s and earlier, many headquarters have been seriously degraded, are cramped, and lack courtrooms, etc.

Therefore, the delegates suggested paying attention to supplementing the 2024 state budget estimate for the People's Court in the capital source to increase budget revenue in 2023, in order to effectively implement the source of increased budget revenue in 2023 and at the same time create conditions for people's courts at all levels to well perform their assigned tasks.

Also on this issue, delegate Nguyen Lam Thanh (Thai Nguyen delegation) requested the National Assembly and the Government to pay attention, do additional research and prioritize early allocation of funds for the work of bomb and mine clearance, to directly continue to immediately resolve urgent socio-economic, security and defense issues. Because according to the recommendations of localities and people, currently the area that has not been cleared or demined is still very large, especially in border communes.

Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc gave a speech explaining a number of issues of concern to National Assembly delegates.

Explaining some opinions of National Assembly delegates, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said that in 2023, the source of excess budget revenue is 133,377 billion VND, of which the excess revenue of the Central budget is 50,970 billion VND, exceeding local budget revenue by 82,400 billion VND. As for the local budget, which is under the authority of the local People's Council, the Ministry of Finance has issued documents instructing the local People's Council and the People's Committees of the provinces to allocate this source.

The central budget allocation of 50,970 billion VND will be for public investment of 26,900 billion VND, of which 4% must be deducted to ensure the salary fund, which is about 21,000 billion VND, plus additional amounts such as: financial fund, reducing budget deficit, repaying budget loans and other items, leaving 26,900 billion VND. Of the 26,900 billion VND, 8,600 billion VND is under the authority of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the remaining 18,220 billion VND is under the authority of the National Assembly.

Responding to the proposal to supplement the budget for people's courts at all levels, the Minister of Finance said that the task of arranging investment capital is assigned to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Finance will coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to ensure expenditure as required. But currently, excess revenue sources are limited, so the Ministry of Finance only advised to allocate 1,500 billion VND to build the court, but will continue to pay attention to this content in the following years.

Regarding the issue the delegate raised related to the work of bomb and mine clearance, the Minister said that in June 2023, the Prime Minister issued Decision 748/QD-TTg in 2023 approving the implementation of National action program to overcome post-war bomb and mine consequences for the period 2023-2025. Currently, funding has been allocated from aid projects.

Because the budget revenue of 2023 will not exceed much, the Ministry of Finance has advised and arranged to set aside a part of the excess budget revenue of 2023 to arrange for mine clearance work in the 4 northern border provinces; the remainder will continue to be arranged in the coming years.

Avoid waste, loss and negativity

Speaking in conclusion, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai said that the opinions of National Assembly delegates basically agreed with the use of general provisions in the medium-term public investment plan of central budget capital for the period 2021-2025, corresponding to the increase in central budget revenue in 2023 for public investment projects. At the same time, we request the Government to urgently carry out work according to regulations, complete investment procedures, allocate capital to disburse capital, avoiding spreading and wasting.

National Assembly delegates also proposed to overcome the situation of slow capital allocation and disbursement, and improve the efficiency of investment capital use; Strengthen the management and use of investment capital in accordance with the provisions of law; Do not allow loss, waste, negativity, etc.

The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly said he would direct the National Assembly's agencies to coordinate with the Government, Government agencies and relevant agencies to synthesize opinions, receive, fully explain and include necessary and appropriate contents with the meeting's resolutions to submit to the National Assembly for consideration and decision.