At Question Time ministers answered the questions of the members of the Riigikogu.

Minister of Internal Affairs Margus Leivo answered the question of Ain Seppik about the national emergency stocks and the question of Olev Laanjärv about the Code of Criminal Procedure Implementation Bill.

Minister Paul-Eerik Rummo answered the question of Trivimi Velliste about the linguistic behaviour of the population and the question of Eldar Efendijev about the situation of national minorities.

Minister of Justice Ken-Marti Vaher answered the question of Enn Eesmaa about the free movement of workers in the European Union, the question of Eiki Nestor about ?Fair state?, the question of Margi Ein about the anti-corruption strategy of the Government of the Republic and the question of Andres Herkel about the supervision over the activities of the political parties.

The Riigikogu passed the following Acts:

The Riigikogu passed with 64 votes in favour the Act on Amendments to § 31 of the Vocational Educational Institutions Act (266 SE), initiated by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, the Union for the Republic ? Res Publica Faction and the Estonian People?s Union Faction. The Act prescribes that schools ensure the protection of students? health during their staying at school. The provision of health care services to students is organised by a manager of educational institution according to the procedure established by a regulation of the Minister of Social Affairs.

The Riigikogu passed with 69 votes in favour the Youth Work Act Amendment Act (254 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act specifies the definitions of youth camps and project camps, regulates their activities, harmonises the requirements set to the personnel of youth camps and project camps.

The Riigikogu passed with 69 votes in favour the Pre-School Child Care Institutions Act, Social Welfare Act, Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act, Republic of Estonia Child Protection Act, Superannuated Pensions Act and Republic of Estonia Education Act Amendment Act (134 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act replaces in all these Acts the words /?hälvik?/ [deviant] and /?hälviklaps?/ [deviant child] with the words ?with special needs? and ?child with special needs?.

The Riigikogu passed with 70 votes in favour the Gender Equality Act (38 SE and 227 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, the Social Democratic Party Faction and the Government of the Republic. Beside the fulfilment of international obligations in the field of human rights assumed by Estonia, the Act is necessary to bring the Estonian legislation into conformity with the law of the European Community, which, however, is the precondition to joining the European Union. The principle of non-discrimination of women and men proceeds from the fundamental right recognised in the European Union not to be discriminated on the basis of sex.

The Riigikogu passed with 51 votes in favour (17 votes against) the Surplus Stocks  Charges Act (272 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act stipulates the bases for the payment of charges levied on agricultural products in the possession of handlers and the procedure for tax proceedings, the bases for exercising state supervision and its range and the liability for the failure to meet the requirements of law.

The Riigikogu passed with 66 votes in favour the Code of Criminal Procedure, Probation Supervision Act and Courts Act Amendment Act (196 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act eliminates the contradictions of the Probation Supervision Act with the Courts Act and Penal Code and solves the problems emerged in practice. The Act liquidates the duplication of legal regulation and creates a uniform legal basis regulating the process of probation supervision.

The Riigikogu passed with 35 votes in favour the Act on the Ratification of the Agreement on the Participation of the Czech Republic, Republic of Estonia, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Latvia, Republic of Lithuania, Republic of Hungary, Republic of Malta, Republic of Poland, Republic of Slovenia and Slovak Republic in the European Economic Area (278 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. In accordance with the Treaty of Accession, after Estonia?s accession to the European Union, the principles of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA), concerning Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, are valid in Estonia. The Agreement on the Participation in the EEA integrates the agreements concluded with the EU into the EEA Agreement and makes in the EEA Treaty technical amendments due to the enlargement of the European Union.

The Riigikogu passed with 38 votes in favour the Act on the Accession to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (224 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Convention enacts the same legal regulation concerning international carriage by rail in Estonia to the west which is valid in the Member States of the EU and in other states parties to the Convention, which makes the carriage by rail in the direction of West and Central Europe considerably simpler.

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the following Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to the Food Act and Associated Acts (284 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Official Statistics Act and Databases Act (255 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Road Transport Act and State Fees Act (288 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on the Enforcement, Repeal and Amendment of the Provisions of Acts Relating to Estonia?s Accession to the European Union (192 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Health Care Services Organisation Act (257 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Pre-school Child Care Institutions Act, Private Schools Act, Juvenile Sanctions Act and Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act (215 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Water Act (268 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment Bill (292 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Funded Pensions Bill (290 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Investment Funds Bill (289 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Customs Bill (280 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to § 9 of the Telecommunications Act (282 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Information Society Services Bill (285 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Public Service Act (286 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Riigikogu suspended the second reading of the following Bills:

The Nature Conservation Bill (279 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Environment Committee is 8 April, 17.00.

The Packaging Bill (291 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Environment Committee is 8 April, 17.00.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the following Bills:

The Bill on the Repeal of the Acts on the Ratification of Free Trade Agreements and Some Other International Agreements in connection with the Accession of the Republic of Estonia to the European Union (311 SE), initiated by the Legal Affairs Committee. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Legal Affairs Committee is 8 April, 11.00.

The Bill on Amendments to § 5 (4) 5), § 21 and § 53 (1) of the Health Insurance Act (307 SE), initiated by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, Estonian People’s Union Faction and the Union for the Republic ? Res Publica Faction. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Social Affairs Committee is 8 April, 10.00.

The Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement on the Termination of the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of Denmark and the Home Government of the Faroe Islands (301 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Foreign Affairs Committee is 12 April, 10.00.

The Bill on the Ratification of the Protocol between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the United States of America to the Treaty for the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment and the Interpretative Diplomatic Notes thereto (300 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 8 April, 12.00.

The Ambient Air Protection Bill (294 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Environment Committee is 14 April, 18.00.

The Bill on the Termination of the International Agreements Related to the Baltic Battalion (283 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the National Defence Committee is 22 April, 18.00.

The Housing Associations Bill (287 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Legal Affairs Committee is 21 April, 18.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Rescue Act (250 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Legal Affairs Committee is 13 April, 18.00.

The Plant Protection Bill (305 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Rural Affairs Committee is 12 April, 10.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Veterinary Activities Organisation Act, Animal Protection Act, State Fees Act and the Code of Enforcement Procedure (306 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Rural Affairs Committee is 12 April, 10.00.

The Rural Development and Agricultural Market Regulation Bill (309 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Rural Affairs Committee is 12 April, 10.00.

The Riigikogu rejected the following Bill at the first reading:

On the motion of the Constitutional Committee the Bill on Amendments to the Citizenship Act (245 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, was rejected. The results of voting: 48 votes in favour, 24 against. The Bill was withdrawn from legislative proceeding.

The sitting ended at 20.05.

The Riigikogu Press Service