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

Minister of Agriculture Tiit Tammsaar answered the question of Arnold Kimber about the situation concerning the approval of enterprises handling raw material for food or food, the question of Jaanus Marrandi about the export of cereals, the question of Katrin Saks about the agricultural refunds of the European Union and the question of Mark Soosaar about the small-scale industry of rural regions.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristiina Ojuland answered the question of Tõnis Lukas about the policy between Estonia and Russia.

Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Meelis Atonen answered the questions of Margi Ein and Andres Herkel about the financing of the construction of local roads, the question of Kaarel Pürg about the situation of Ida-Virumaa roads and the question of Mihhail Stalnuhhin about the employment in Ida-Virumaa.

The Riigikogu passed the following Acts and the Resolution:

The Riigikogu passed with 55 votes in favour (4 votes against) the Public Transport Act and State Fees Act Amendment Act (2 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act makes numerous editorial amendments and specifies the text of the Act deriving from the problems cropped up in the course of implementation.

The State Culture Awards and Culture Grants Act Amendment Act (110 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 55 votes in favour.  The Act provides for the establishment of a State Language Award to value the preservation and development of the Estonian language as the essential identity factor of Estonians.

The Act on the Ratification of the Instrument Amending the Convention for the Establishment of the European Radiocommunications Office and its Annex: Convention for the Establishment of the European Communications Office (101 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 54 votes in favour.  The organization established by the amending instrument will transpose the obligations of the European Radiocommunications Office and the European Telecommunications Office (the preamble of the ECO Convention), the amendments on the substance of the Convention concern the field of activity and objective of the organisation, the election of members of the Council and the jurisdiction of the Council, and the covering of financial costs and membership fees.

The Act on the Ratification of Amendments to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, made in Beijing in 1999 (79 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 52 votes in favour. The implementation of the Act enables Estonia to better fulfil the international requirements arising from the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and to harmonise the legal acts of the European Union and Estonia.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Approval of the Report on the Implementation of the State Budget of 2002 (75 OE), submitted by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 46 votes in favour. The budget of revenue and expenditure for the year 2002 was approved in the amount of EEK 33.1 billion. The economic growth faster than expected and good revenues from taxation enabled to pass two supplementary budgets in a year. Thus the specified volume of the state budget for the year 2002 was EEK 34.3 billion.The growth of the volume of the state budget of 2002, as compared to the year 2001, was 13.2 per cent.

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the following Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Act (62 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Bill on Amendments to the Taxation Act and Land Tax Act (108 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the following Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to § 27 of the Pre-School Child Care Institutions Act (141 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 Cultural Affairs Committee is 20 October, 10.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Republic of Estonia Education Act and Education Allowances and Students Loans Act (142 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 Cultural Affairs Committee is 20 October, 10.00.

The Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the Member States of the European Union) and the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic on the Accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union (77 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Foreign Affairs Committee is 29 October, 18.00.

The State Budget of the Year 2004 Bill (128 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Mõõdukad Faction moved to reject the Bill. The motion was not supported. The results of voting: 4 votes in favour, 53 against. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Finance Committee is 29 October, 18.00.

The Energy Efficiency of Equipment Bill (111 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Economic Affairs Committee is 29 October, 18.00.

The Bill on Amendments to the Pre-School Child 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 (134 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The term for submission of motions to amend to the Cultural Affairs Committee is 20 October, 10.00.

The Riigikogu rejected the following Bill:

The Bill on Amendments to the Republic of Estonia Education Act (93 SE), initiated by the Isamaaliit Faction. The results of voting: 46 votes in favour, 14 against.

The sitting ended at 20.40.

The Riigikogu Press Service