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

Minister of Internal Affairs Margus Leivo answered the question of Toomas Alatalu about county governors, the question of Ain Seppik about the situation in the police, the question of Kadi Pärnits about the police reform and the question of Helir-Valdor Seeder about the administrative capacity of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Minister of Education and Research Toivo Maimets answered the question of Eiki Nestor about the teachers? salaries, the question of Marika Tuus about the teachers? strike, the question of Kaarel Pürg about the higher education offered in Ida-Virumaa and the question of Vilja Savisaar about private universities.

Minister of Defence Margus Hanson answered the question of Trivimi Velliste about the reform of the Defence Forces. 

The Riigikogu passed the following Acts:

The State Budget of the Year 2003 Act Amendment Act (159 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 70 votes in favour. The amendment to the Act redistributes the state budget funds of the year 2003.

The Value Added Tax Act (131 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 55 votes in favour. The Act harmonises the Value Added Tax Act with the Sixth Council Directive of the Council of the European Communities, regulating the value added tax in the European Union. The Act enters into force upon accession to the European Union.

The Structural Fund Assistance Act (148 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 67 votes in favour. The Act stipulates the bases for the preparation of the grant of structural fund assistance and review of applications, the rights and obligations of subjects related to the grant and use of structural fund assistance and the procedure for the state supervision. The Act enters into force on January 1, 2004.

The Citizenship Act Amendment Act (180 SE), initiated by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, the Union for the Republic ? Res Publica  Faction and the Estonian People?s Union Faction, was passed with 79 votes in favour. With the amendment to the Act the Citizenship Act is amended with new sections, stipulating the reimbursement of expenses for the language training and the implementation of the reimbursement of expenses. The Act enters into force on January 1, 2004.

The Language Act Amendment Act (149 SE and 163 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Mailis Reps, Vladimir Velman, Toivo Tootsen, Heimar Lenk, Olev Laanjärv, Arnold Kimber and Vilja Savisaar and the Government of the Republic, was passed with 72 votes in favour. The amendments to the Act solve the problems relating to the categories of certificates of work-related proficiency in Estonian language. The Act enters into force on January 1, 2004.

The Rural Development and Agricultural Market Regulation Act Amendment Act (152 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 81 votes in favour. The amendment to the Act provides a new measure of market regulation, which is the obligation to control wild oats; the provisions regulating support for the breeding of farm animals are also specified and several other problems encountered in the course of the implementation of the Act are solved.

The Parental Benefits Act (125 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 61 votes in favour and 5 votes against.  The purpose of the Act is to compensate for the income not received because of raising the children and to support the reconciliation of working and family life. The income within the extent of the rate of benefit will be ensured for a person who has not got any revenue. The Act regulates the conditions and procedure for the grant and payment of parental benefits. The Act enters into force on January 1, 2004.

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the following Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to the State Budget Act, Accounting Act, State Audit Office Act, Rural Municipality and City Budgets Act, Local Government Organisation Act, Use of Privatisation Proceeds Act (89 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco and Fuel Excise Duty Act and Fiscal Marking of Liquid Fuel Act (130 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act, Social Tax Act and Land Tax Act (132 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Fisheries Market Organisation Bill (157 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Victim Support Bill (146 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure (of the ESSR) and Code of Criminal Procedure (147 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Strategic Goods Bill (162 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Fishing Act (173 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Pressure Equipment Safety Act (160 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Technical Regulations and Standards Act (172 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Acts Related to the Merger of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Transport and Communications into the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (156 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Identity Documents Act and State Borders Act (161 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, Penal Code and Code of Misdemeanour Procedure (84 SE and 102 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Ain Seppik, Olev Laanjärv, Siiri Oviir and the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and Other Acts, Related to the Merger of the Tax Board and the Customs Board (181 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, and the Bill on Amendments to the Acts Related to the Merger of the Tax Board and Customs Board (182 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the following Bills:

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Extension of the Time Limit of the Use of the Estonian Defence Forces Unit in Performance of International Duties of the Estonian State under the International Peacekeeping Mission in Afghanistan (200 OE), submitted by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the National Defence Committee is 12 December, 12.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Forest Act, Proceeds from the Environmental Use Act and State Fees Act (190 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Environment Committee is 23 December, 12.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Lifts and Cableway Installations Safety Act (171 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 17 December, 18.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Gaseous Fuel Safety Act (169 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 17 December, 18.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Acts Regulating Legal Protection of the Industrial Property and the Acts Related to them (195 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 17 December, 12.00.

The sitting of the Riigikogu ended at 18.33.

The Riigikogu Press Service