Kiisler answered the question as to how he as a Minister assessed the results of the work of the current county governors and what the county governors’ contribution in the preparation and planned implementation of the administrative reform was. In the words of the Minister of Regional Affairs, he unfortunately cannot give a very positive general assessment because seven new county governors have been appointed to office in the second half of 2009 and in January 2010: Harju, Järva, Viljandi, Jõgeva, Rapla, Lääne-Viru and Pärnu county governors. “It is too early to give an assessment to their activities. As regards the county governors who have been in office for longer, there is no information which would give a reason to be unsatisfied with them. The Government has unfortunately not taken a fundamental decision regarding the carrying out of the administrative reform. Therefore, no immediate tasks have been assigned to county governors in connection with that,” explained Kiisler. In his opinion, development of local governments will however have to continue because problems exist and will not disappear. “For this purpose, a local governments development programme is being launched which we hope to finance with 2.88 million kroons from the funds of the structural funds. Specialists of county governments as well as county governors, naturally, will be involved in this work,” said Kiisler.

 

The Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi replied to the interpellation concerning the financing of the Estonian National Broadcasting (No 370), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Mailis Reps, Enn Eesmaa, Kalle Laanet, Eldar Efendijev, Nelli Privalova, Toivo Tootsen, Arvo Sarapuu, Nikolai Põdramägi, Rein Ratas, Evelyn Sepp, Ain Seppik, Kadri Simson, Aivar Riisalu, Marika Tuus, Heimar Lenk, Valeri Korb, Georg Pelisaar, Ester Tuiksoo, Villu Reiljan and Mai Treial on 8 February.

 

The Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur replied to five interpellations. They were the following:

 

The interpellation concerning medical rehabilitation and nursing care (No 354), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Marika Tuus, Mailis Reps, Lauri Laasi, Kadri Simson, Eldar Efendijev, Heimar Lenk, Nikolai Põdramägi, Toivo Tootsen, Jaak Aab and Helle Kalda on 18 January;

 

The interpellation concerning the activities of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (No 349), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Ester Tuiksoo, Karel Rüütli, Mai Treial and Tarmo Mänd on 13 January;

 

The interpellation concerning the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s spendings on souvenirs (No 355), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Lauri Laasi, Toivo Tootsen, Tiit Kuusmik, Kalle Laanet and Olga Sõtnik on 19 January;

 

The interpellation concerning the organisation of and the fee for home delivery of pensions and benefits (No 357), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Mai Treial, Ester Tuiksoo, Karel Rüütli, Jaanus Marrandi, Tarmo Mänd and Villu Reiljan on 20 January;

 

The interpellation concerning the creation of new jobs (No 360), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Toivo Tootsen, Nikolai Põdramägi, Vladimir Velman, Eldar Efendijev, Jaak Aab, Arvo Sarapuu, Inara Luigas, Helle Kalda, Marika Tuus and Heimar Lenk on 26 January.

 

The sitting ended at 6.36 p.m.

 

The Riigikogu Press Service