Hot with decentralization, decentralization of decision-making on investment policies for group B and C projects

On November 6, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the draft Law on Public Investment (amended).

Ensure the principles of division of labor and coordination

Delegate Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nga (Quang Binh Delegation) said that regarding the criteria for classifying important national projects, adjusting and increasing the investment capital level of public investment projects is necessary. However, there needs to be a specific assessment, providing the basis for increasing the investment capital level of projects to meet the criteria of national importance, and at the same time, it is necessary to assess the policy impact to determine appropriate criteria.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nga speaks (Photo: Quang Vinh)

Regarding decentralization and delegation of power to create flexibility in management, according to Ms. Nga, it is necessary to ensure the principle of division of power, coordination and control of power according to the provisions of the Constitution and laws, and improve the efficiency of the apparatus in public investment management. "Decentralization and delegation of power must be consistent with the functions, tasks and implementation capacity. For example, group B and C projects transferring authority from the People's Council to the People's Committee at the same level is a major change that requires a comprehensive impact assessment. Because the People's Council is the agency that decides on the budget, it is a measure to control power. In case the People's Council finds that the project needs decentralization, re-delegation of power to the People's Committee is a flexible measure, suitable for each locality to decide on investment policies to ensure supervision and control of power" - Ms. Nga said and said that it is necessary to consider transferring authority for group B and C projects from the People's Council to the People's Committee.

Ms. Do Thi Viet Ha speaks (Photo: Quang Vinh)

According to Deputy Do Thi Viet Ha (Bac Giang Delegation), the comprehensive scope of amending the Law is absolutely necessary with "ripe and clear" issues to immediately resolve and free up public investment resources to achieve the highest results for the goals set by the 13th National Party Congress.

Ms. Ha suggested that the Government continue to thoroughly review the provisions of the Law so that they are stable, have long-term value, and ensure compliance with the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents, which is that the Law only stipulates basic policies and principles, while the contents on procedures, criteria, standards, conditions, and techniques are assigned to the Government, Prime Minister, and Ministers of ministries to clearly stipulate.

Delegate Nguyen Tuan Thinh (Hanoi Delegation) raised the issue that the agency that decides on the investment policy should decide on the adjustment of the investment policy to ensure consistency. At the same time, this draft Law needs to ensure consistency with the Law on the Capital City that has just been passed by the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, Deputy Nguyen Truong Giang (Dak Nong Delegation) noted that decentralization and delegation of power must be in accordance with legal regulations and must not be contrary to the Constitution. In particular, it must ensure the principle of power control, as well as be appropriate to actual circumstances and conditions.

Consider transferring investment policy decisions from the People's Council to the People's Committee at the same level

Delegate Hoang Van Cuong (Hanoi Delegation) also proposed to consider decentralizing the authority to decide on investment policies from the People's Council to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the same level. Because the People's Councils at all levels hold meetings quite regularly and can hold extraordinary meetings when necessary. Therefore, there is no need to worry about wasting time waiting if it has to be submitted to the People's Council for approval. If submitted to the People's Council for approval, the project must be prepared more carefully, and consult with many relevant agencies, so it will take more time than submitting directly to the Chairman for approval. However, if the project has to consult with many agencies, it will be evaluated and considered more carefully, and better preparation will ensure that when implemented, it will be more convenient and effective. "This is necessary because according to international experience, when preparing an investment project, it is always evaluated and prepared very carefully before implementation," said Mr. Cuong.

Mr. Hoang Van Cuong speaks (Photo: Quang Vinh)

Mr. Cuong emphasized that the approval of the investment policy by the People's Council is a mechanism to control power, creating independence between the agency deciding on the investment policy and the person approving the investment project, to avoid the risk of making mistakes and reduce the burden of responsibility for the person approving the project.

From there, Mr. Cuong suggested that it is necessary to supplement the Draft Law Amendment in the direction of allowing People's Councils at all levels to decide on specific solutions, suitable to the local reality and the specific requirements of each project. This is also completely consistent with the direction of the General Secretary to delegate decision-making power to localities. At the same time, it is stipulated that People's Councils at all levels can authorize People's Committees at the same level to decide on investment policies for projects under their authority to suit the conditions of each locality.

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Thuy speaks (Photo: Quang Vinh)

Delegate Nguyen Phuong Thuy (Hanoi Delegation) analyzed that the decision on investment policy and investment decision should be assigned to two different agencies to ensure the requirements of supervision and control of power. Previously, we were assigning the People's Council to decide on investment policy for public investment projects using local budget capital because the People's Council is the state power agency in the locality, deciding on important local issues, on behalf of the people deciding on the use of local budget and exercising the right to supervision, so the People's Council deciding on investment policy, then the Chairman of the People's Committee deciding and organizing the implementation of the investment project is a very reasonable process.

Taking the practical example of Hanoi city through statistics from the beginning of the 2021-2026 term up to now, the Hanoi People's Council has organized about 20 meetings. When the People's Committee requests, the People's Council proactively arranges and schedules meetings as soon as possible to exercise its powers according to the provisions of law. Ms. Thuy suggested that the content of the regulations on the authority to decide on investment policies for projects using local budget funds should not be amended as proposed by the Law, which is to decentralize the authority to decide on investment policies from the People's Council to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the same level.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/nong-voi-phan-cap-phan-quyen-quyet-dinh-chu-truong-dau-tu-du-an-nhom-bc-10293898.html