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

Minister of Regional Affairs Jaan Õunapuu answered the question of Helir-Valdor Seeder and Vilja Savisaar about regional policy, the question of Eiki Nestor about the appointment of county governors, the question of Ain Seppik about the Bill on Contributing to the Merger of Local Governments and the question of Katrin Saks about regional grants.

Minister of Justice Ken-Marti Vaher answered the question of Toomas Alatalu about Baltic Germans? property, the question of Mihhail Stalnuhhin about the rules of procedure of the Riigikogu and the question of Andres Herkel about benefits to the repressed persons.

Minister of Internal Affairs Margus Leivo answered the question of Trivimi Velliste about the rescue service.

The Riigikogu passed the following Act:

The Riigikogu passed with 62 votes in favour the Ambient Air Protection Act (294 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act regulates activities which involve chemical or physical impact on the ambient air, damage to the ozone layer or appearance of factors which cause climate change.

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the following Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to § 15 of the Value Added Tax Act (337 SE), initiated by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, Estonian People’s Union Faction and the Union for the Republic ? Res Publica Faction.

The Bill on Amendments to the State Secrets Act (308 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Biocides Bill (318 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Riigikogu suspended the second reading of the following Bill:

The motion to suspend the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol Act and State Fees Act (328 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was made by the Union for the Republic ? Res Publica Faction. The results of voting: 55 votes in favour, 2 abstentions. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 7 May, 12.00.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the following Bills:

The Code of Criminal Procedure and Code of Enforcement Procedure Implementation Bill (273 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Legal Affairs Committee is 19 May, 18.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Obligation to Leave and Prohibition on Entry Act and to the Aliens Act Arising Therefrom (324 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Constitutional Committee is 19 May, 18.00.

The Medical Devices Bill (336 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Social Affairs Committee is 12 May, 18.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Copyright Act (326 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Cultural Affairs Committee is 19 May, 18.00.

The Bill on Amendments to Act on the Procedure for the Return of Cultural Objects Unlawfully Removed from a Member State of the European Union (334 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Cultural Affairs Committee is 10 May, 10.00.

The Bill on the Ratification of the Convention between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Russian Federation for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and the Protocol thereto (319 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 12 May, 12.00.

The Bill on the Ratification of the Convention between the Republic of Estonia and the Portuguese Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and the Protocol thereto (320 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 12 May, 12.00.

The Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (321 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 12 May, 12.00.

The Bill on the Ratification of the Convention between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Hungary for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital and the Protocol thereto (322 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 12 May, 12.00.

The Bill on the Ratification of the Convention between the Republic of Estonia and the Swiss Federal Council for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital and the Protocol thereto (331 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 12 May, 12.00.

The Riigikogu rejected the following Bills at the first reading:

The motion to reject the Bill on Amendments to the State Family Benefits Act (270 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, was made by the Social Affairs Committee. The results of voting: 39 votes in favour, 10 against. The Bill was withdrawn from legislative proceeding.

The motion to reject the Bill on Amendments to the Unemployment Insurance Act (277 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, was made by the Union for the Republic ? Res Publica Faction. The results of voting: 45 votes in favour, 15 against. The Bill was withdrawn from legislative proceeding.

The Riigikogu Press Service