Last joint sitting of parliament ahead of the polls

The House of Representatives and the Senate held their last joint sitting on Tuesday.

The joint sitting was ordered closed after approving the cabinet's request to withdraw eight documents drawn up with foreign countries and earlier forwarded to parliament for approval under Section 190 of the constitution.

The documents are on the following subjects:
 
- an action plan under a United Nations convention on climate change;
- a convention of international labour organisations on labour rights to negotiations; 
- an Asean joint agreement on qualifications of personnel in tourism-related businesses;
- a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Thailand and Australia;
- an MoU between Thailand and Burma on air services; 
- an agreement between Thailand, Laos and China on land transport;
- Minutes of Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meetings; and
- a treaty for the Asian Institute of Technology.

Prime Minister's Office Minister Ong-art Klampaibul said since Section 190 of the constitution  has been altered by parliament and is awaiting consideration by the Constitution Court before going into effect, the government wanted the eight documents withdrawn from the agenda of the joint sitting of parliament for reconsideration later in line with the amended charter.

Parliament President Chai Chidchob ordered the closure of the last joint sitting at 12 noon.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said earlier this morning that since the Constitution Court had tentatively scheduled examination of the bills on amendments of three organic laws for Monday, May 9, the House dissolution earlier expected in the first week of May might have to be delayed.He said after the dissolution of the House of Representatives, which is expected to come next week, the senate speaker will assume the duties of parliament president - an ex officio position  held by the house speaker.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would today forward additional explanations of the three bills to the Constitution Court for consideration as requested, he said.

"Even though the House dissolution may be delayed for a time, I believe there will not be any problems or complications. The House of Represenatives will be dissolved anyway," Mr Suthep said.

The cabinet also held its last meeting at the parliament building and approved a range of payouts.

One  important approval was for a proposal that the Government Housing Bank (GHB) make available 25 billion baht for loans for first-time homebuyers.

The bank will offer first-time homebuyers a mortgage loan at zero interest for the first two years if it is less than three million baht, with a full term of 30 years. Homebuyers with less than one million baht annual income can borrow up to one million baht.

The scheme is aimed at helping low and medium income earners at a time when interest rates are rising  and the cost of living increasing.

The government will compensate the bank for the interest loss, at 450-500 million baht.

Borrowers will pay zero interest in the first two years, 0.5 per cent in years 3 to 5, and one per cent from year 6 onwards.

Homebuyers can submit loan applications from May 8 to Dec 31.

The cabinet also approved the Culture Ministry's proposal to declare February 6 of each year Muay Thai Day.

Deputy government spokesman Watchara Kannikar said naming Feb 6 after the traditional Thai martial art  is intended to honour King Somdej Phra Sanphet the 8th, better known as Phra Chao Sua, of the Ayutthaya period, who history records as being renowned  for his expertise in Thai martial skills.

Phra Chao Sua rose to the throne on Feb 6, 1702.

Another proposal approved in principle by the cabinet is an Interior Ministry proposal to set up 872 provincial branches of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department across the country, deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said.

The Interior Ministry had been instructed to work with  the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission to fix details of the plan and then resubmit it to the cabinet for consideration.

The cabinet also approved in principle a request by the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) for funding from the mid-year budget for special allowances for Isoc personnel on duty between Dec 22 last year and Sept 30, this year.

It also approved a request by the Interior Ministry to increase the monthly allowance for staff of the Provincial Waterworks Authority in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat from 2,500 to 5,000 baht.