Government News 13/12 Vietnam forges parliamentary cooperation with Peru, Argentina A National Assembly (NA) Committee for Finance and Budget delegation headed by its Vice Chairman Tran Van conducted working visits to Peru and Argentina from December 11-12 to exchange experience in public investment management, public debt settlement and issues related to the state budget law and tax policy. During the visits, the delegation worked with some Peruvian and Argentinean agencies and visited major economic groups. At the meetings, Tran Van highlighted Vietnam’s tremendous achievements in national industrialization and while introducing trade and investment policies as well as the nation’s efforts in improving the legal system to create a favorable business environment for investors. Vietnamese delegates also shared experiences in managing budget revenue  from taxes and fees, budgetary decentralization between the central and local agencies, settlement of  public debt, tax invasion,  pricing transfer  in direct foreign enterprises, the rate of value added tax, corporate income tax and structure between recurrent spending and capital expenditure for development. On the occasion, the delegation informed its hosts about Vietnam’s preparations for  the 132nd General Assembly of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU-132)  - one of the largest foreign events in the Southeast Asian country in terms of organisational size and the number of international attendees which is slated for March next year. Tran Van said the focus of the trip is to study the laws of Peru and Argentina concerning budget process as well as coordination in verifying budgets between NA committees, noting that the successful trip has contributed to strengthening political, economic and parliamentary ties between Vietnam and the two South American nations. Presidential Office announces new laws The Presidential Office announced eight new laws yesterday. They cover household registration; enforcement of civil judgments; special consumption tax; other taxes; investment; business; management and use of State capital in production and trade of businesses; and occupational education. The Law on Taxation will come into force as of January 1 next year, while the remaining laws will be effective from July 1, except for the Laws on Household Registration and Special Consumption Tax, which will take effect on January 1, 2016. HCM City deputies want road fee on motorcycles delayed Many deputies of the HCMC People’s Council on December 10 proposed a continued delay in collection of a road maintenance fee from motorcycles as collection and management methods need to be clarified. The HCMC People’s Committee wants to start collecting the fee on January 1 next year, which ranges from VND50,000 to VND150,000 per year depending on the capacity of motorbikes. However, the council’s chairwoman Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam said motorcycles are an important means of transport and livelihood of many poor citizens. “It’s difficult for the council to issue a resolution on the road maintenance fee… I’m concerned over the authorization of communes and wards to collect the fee as their collection methods may be different.” Therefore, Tam requested the city government to further weigh it and give detailed guidelines for this matter. According to Tam, the city government should clarify the fee collection and fines for motorcycle owners who do not pay. Many deputies also questioned the collection method presented by the city government. Nguyen Huu Tin, vice chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, said the city planned to start fee collection in 2012 but postponed it until now. Assigning the authorities to collect the fee is clarified in a relevant decree of the Government. Deputies of the HCMC People’s Council will vote whether to apply the fee later this week at their ongoing meeting. As scheduled, leaders of the departments of transport and information-communications will participate in question-and-answer sessions on December 11. NA delegation visits UK Parliament A delegation from the Vietnam National Assembly (NA) Law Committee led by Chairman Phan Trung Ly  paid a working visit to the UK  from December 8-14. While in the UK, the delegation worked with a number of UK parliamentary agencies to learn about the operational model of the British Parliament as well as the legislative process, the role and authority of the parliamentary committees in promoting legislative and supervisory activities and attending the hearings in the British Parliament. The delegates also visited the London City Council and the Scotland Office, hearing them introduce the UK government's plan to empower the Scottish Parliament after the Sept 18 referendum in Scotland. The UK Government is expected to issue a new draft law on empowering the Scottish Parliament relating to taxation and social welfare. These proposals have been made by the three major political parties in the UK just a few days prior to the referendum in Scotland aimed at persuading voters to vote against the independence plan. Visiting Brunel University London, the two sides exchanged views on prospects for bilateral cooperation in such areas as personnel training, expert assistance in the areas of the Vietnam NA Law Committee’s demand. They agreed to continue their discussions on the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the near future. VNA/VOV/SGT