Govt fast-tracks budget bill

Govt fast-tracks budget bill

The government is speeding up its review of the long-awaited budget bill for the 2020 fiscal year and plans to submit it to the House for scrutiny in October, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday.

The fiscal year starts in October, but 2020 budget expenditure, estimated at 3.3 trillion baht, has been delayed due to the new government's transition.

Mr Wissanu said the budget spending framework is being revised to reflect the government's policies which were announced in parliament last week.

The budget bill is expected to be passed into law after three months of scrutiny, or by January next year.

However, it will take retroactive effect, the deputy prime minister said, adding that sources of funds to implement the policies are listed in the government policy manifesto.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will call a meeting with permanent secretaries and provincial governors on Aug 8 to lay down policy guidelines, according to Mr Wissanu.

The meeting is necessary to explain the policies in detail to state officials.

Mr Wissanu also defended the oath-taking of cabinet ministers led by Gen Prayut during the swearing-in ceremony, saying the process was complete.

The opposition criticised Gen Prayut for failing to include some of the words and claimed the oath-taking was deemed to be "constitutionally incomplete".

"The process was completed and the cabinet has already accepted [the King's] blessings and advice," Mr Wissanu said.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (1)