MPs to quiz govt on 1st-year performance

The government will present a report on its first-year performance to the House of Representatives today, spokesman Teerat Rattanasevi said.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her cabinet would address the report following today’s cabinet meeting, Mr Teerat said.

The government is required by the constitution to report on its performance every year. Its first-year report is a year overdue.

Mr Teerat said ministers have prepared for the event, including new members who have trained intensively on how to respond to the opposition’s questions.

The report will cover the government’s performance between Aug 23, 2011, and Aug 23, 2012.

The Secretariat of the Cabinet delivered the report to parliament on Nov 23 last year.

The 225-page report covers government policies on emergencies, security, administration, social issues, justice, foreign affairs, the economy, natural resources and the environment, science and public participation.

Mr Teerat said the government is now preparing its second-year performance report, which is expected to be forwarded to parliament later this year.

The first report will also cover the ricepledging scheme and increasing the mini-

mum starting salaries of bachelor-degree holders to 15,000 baht a month.

Government chief whip Amnuay Khlangpha said the debate on the government’s performance will take 15 hours — five hours allotted to the ministers, and the rest to the opposition.

‘‘The opposition will be required to question the government only on policy and performance, and the debate should wrap up in two days,’’ Mr Amnuay said.

The debate will be televised on Channel 11, he added.

Deputy House Speaker Charoen Chankomol said no vote would be called.

Mr Charoen said the Lower House will vote on the third reading of the charter amendment bill concerning the composition of the Senate on Saturday.

Another bill on the amendment of the charter’s Section 190 is expected to go on parliament’s agenda early next month, he said.

The section currently requires the government to seek parliamentary approval before sealing significant international deals.

Critics worry that amending it could allow the Yingluck Shinawatra administration to sign a free trade agreement with Europe without proper scrutiny.

Meanwhile, the political amnesty bill could be finalised by a vetting committee later next month before being forwarded to the House for its second reading, Mr Charoen added.