Forecasting and orientation in questioning activities of elected bodies

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council chaired the question-and-answer session at the 8th session of the Provincial People's Council, term 2016 - 2021. Photo: Document

Forecasting and orientation through questioning

What is highly appreciated by public opinion is that the selection of questioning content of the Provincial People's Council through 2 sessions in 2018 closely followed the reality of life. For example, at the mid-year session (6th session), through questioning related to the implementation of hydropower projects in the province, the Provincial People's Council clarified the current situation of existing problems in resettlement compensation, land allocation for production for people and weaknesses in public service works. And the important thing is the participation of all levels and sectors to resolve those problems after the session ended.

Secretary of Tuong Duong District Party Committee Nguyen Van Hai shared that after the questioning of the Provincial People's Council, the provincial and district-level departments and investors of Ban Ve and Khe Bo hydropower projects have focused more on resolving existing problems.

Accordingly, the policy to support poor households that had not been implemented before is now implemented in 100% of households with a total amount of up to 13 billion VND. That is also the policy of population relocation, housing support expenditure, and land policy are also implemented additionally.

Traffic works, schools, community cultural houses, and clean water are invested in and upgraded. In particular, 3 oases in the Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir received an additional investment of 26 billion VND to build a traffic system and clean water works.

After questioning, the Provincial People's Committee sent a proposal to the Central Government to supplement the compensation support policy on flood level for the Ban Ve hydropower project. Photo: Mai Hoa

Similarly, at the Hua Na hydropower project, according to Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Que Phong district Luu Van Hung, up to this point, many important issues have been resolved, such as granting land use right certificates, speeding up the progress of allocating land for rice production and forest land.

The investor has also reviewed and supported the addition of some contents such as equipment for cultural houses, waste treatment facilities, environmental treatment support at resettlement sites, land deduction between departure and destination, policies to support production development for resettled people...

In addition, according to Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council Lo Thi Kim Ngan, through the questioning, the Provincial People's Council also raised predictive issues related to the operation process and supervision of bottom discharge and flood discharge from hydropower projects in the province to ensure safety in downstream areas.

Delegate Lo Thi Kim Ngan questions at the meeting. Photo: Archive

And in practice, due to the impact of storms No. 3 and No. 4, combined with the flood discharge operations of a number of hydropower plants in the last days of August 2018, it has greatly affected the lives and production of people in the downstream areas. From there, it has set the responsibility for all levels and sectors in approving and supervising the bottom discharge and flood discharge processes of hydropower projects in the province more seriously and strictly.

The selection of questioning content of the Provincial People's Council in 2018 is also suggestive and orients the development of the province in the period of industrial revolution 4.0 through questioning the current status of research and application of science and technology to serve socio-economic development in the province.

Through the questioning, the Provincial People's Council also clarified that, in order to promote the application of science and technology in all areas of social life, especially in the fields of production and business; the issue that needs to be given top priority is to identify scientific research topics that are both comprehensive and focused; strengthen the connection between scientists for research and businesses for the implementation of scientific achievements; and associate that with accompanying mechanisms and policies to promote research and application of science and technology...

Increase accountability in questioning

Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Nguyen Xuan Son emphasized: "Implementing policies for meritorious people is both our responsibility and our morality." Photo: Mai Hoa

At the end of 2018 session (8th session), instead of selecting content under the management responsibility of a department or branch, the Provincial People's Council selected the content of the questioning according to the group of subjects affected by the policy and related to many levels and many management sectors. These were the implementation of policies for people with meritorious services and the implementation of ethnic policies in the province; 2 issues that voters in many localities were interested in reflecting and recommending in many voter meetings.

And at the question and answer session, in addition to acknowledging the efforts of all levels and sectors in the implementation; the delegates of the Provincial People's Council also pointed out many shortcomings and limitations related to the implementation of these two policies. And through the answers of the representatives of the leaders of the sectors, they also acknowledged the difficulties, clearly recognized the responsibilities and solutions to overcome them in the coming time. "When the causes, responsibilities and specific solutions are clearly identified, the implementation of these two policies in the province in the coming time will certainly be better, gradually reducing the frustration among the people" - Deputy Head of the Culture - Social Committee of the Provincial People's Council Nguyen Thi Lan affirmed.

Assessing the questioning activities in 2018, Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council said: In addition to worrying about choosing urgent questioning content; the Provincial People's Council also continues to innovate questioning activities, promoting the intelligence and responsibility of the Provincial People's Council delegates to fully convey the thoughts, aspirations and concerns of voters to the parliament; at the same time, seeing the spirit of openness, high responsibility in explaining as well as more concern about the tasks and solutions for the coming time of the questioned sectors.

Delegate Thai Thi An Chung questions at the 8th session. Photo: Archive

However, frankly speaking, we are not really satisfied with the quality and effectiveness of the questioning activities at the session. Because there are issues that have not been resolved or resolved after the questioning due to problems with mechanisms and policies; there are issues that are bound by many levels and many sectors taking responsibility and management, while the coordination mechanism to resolve them is not effective; there are issues that require resources and time to resolve.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Nguyen Xuan Son also affirmed: Questioning is a direct monitoring tool of the People's Council agency over state management agencies at all levels in the process of implementing the State's policies, laws and guidelines, aiming at the goal of making agencies in the state apparatus increasingly perform their functions, powers and tasks better, ensuring transparency and accountability in the performance of public duties.

Therefore, in addition to the responsibility of the Provincial People's Committee, departments, branches and localities in reviewing, having plans and solutions, and resolutely directing the resolution of existing problems, the responsibility is also placed on the Provincial People's Council and each Provincial People's Council delegate in urging the implementation of the conclusions of the questioning session of the Provincial People's Council Standing Committee.

On the other hand, it also requires the attention, monitoring and supervision of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, socio-political organizations, press agencies, voters and people regarding the promises of heads of departments and branches, so that the quality and effectiveness of questioning by the Provincial People's Council are increasingly improved.