Prime Minister Andrus Ansip replied to the interpellation concerning the Government’s measures for mitigating the difficult situation of the unemployed (No 365), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Kalev Kallo, Nikolai Põdramägi, Tiit Kuusmik, Lauri Laasi, Inara Luigas, Vladimir Velman, Marika Tuus and Valeri Korb on 28 January.

 

Ansip stressed that it is investments that create jobs; the state does not create jobs. “The state creates the conditions for investments to come to the state. They will come when we have a reliable business environment,” explained the Prime Minister. Ansip gave an overview of the plan of social measures for helping the unemployed. In his words, a total amount of 3.8 billion kroons will be spent for helping and mitigating the situation of the unemployed. These measures will be implemented by the Unemployment Insurance Fund, Enterprise Estonia, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Research, educational institutions, local governments and various non-profit associations.

 

The budget of the employment programme financed by the European Social Fund has been significantly increased for providing employment services in 2009 and 2010. While the budget of the employment programme amounted to a total of 437 million kroons in 2007–2009, of which 349 million kroons was used in 2009, 422 million kroons are planned for provision of employment services in the employment programme in 2010. “Besides, the Government has decided to increase the volume of the support of the employment programme additionally by 100 million kroons in 2010 and 2011 upon amending the European Union structural instruments implementation plans,” asserted Ansip.

 

In 2009 and 2010, several substantial changes have been made for maintaining employment and addressing unemployment. The main emphasis is laid on the measures that directly help the unemployed to find employment. “Among them, I would like to underline wage subsidies, the business start up subsidy and work practice,” said Ansip.

 

The Prime Minister replied to five more interpellations. They were the following:

 

The interpellation concerning the situation in the labour market (No 371), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Mai Treial, Karel Rüütli and Tarmo Mänd on 9 February;

 

The interpellation concerning the relation of complementary national direct payments and employment (No 373), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Arvo Sarapuu, Kalev Kallo, Eldar Efendijev, Nelli Privalova, Kalle Laanet, Enn Eesmaa, Mailis Reps, Lauri Laasi, Georg Pelisaar, Toomas Varek, Helle Kalda, Valeri Korb, Tiit Kuusmik, Jaak Aab, Nikolai Põdramägi and Evelyn Sepp on 9 February;

 

The interpellation concerning Elering Ltd loan scheme (No 374), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Kalev Kallo, Helle Kalda, Kadri Simson, Valeri Korb, Aivar Riisalu, Tiit Kuusmik, Lauri Laasi, Toivo Tootsen, Toomas Varek and Arvo Sarapuu Sepp on 9 February;

 

The interpellation concerning the programme “A Place in Kindergarten for Every Child” (No 376), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Olga Sõtnik, Toivo Tootsen, Arvo Sarapuu, Rein Ratas, Evelyn Sepp, Ain Seppik, Kadri Simson, Aivar Riisalu, Marika Tuus, Toomas Varek, Inara Luigas, Enn Eesmaa, Nelli Privalova and Jüri Ratas on 10 February;

 

The interpellation concerning financing of waste management and corruption (No 383), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Valeri Korb, Helle Kalda, Kadri Simson, Kalev Kallo, Arvo Sarapuu, Toomas Varek, Lembit Kaljuvee, Tiit Kuusmik, Nikolai Põdramägi, Heimar Lenk, Vladimir Velman and Nelli Privalova on 17 February;

 

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

 

The interpellation concerning dental care (No 368), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Marika Tuus, Jaak Aab, Nikolai Põdramägi, Heimar Lenk, Tiit Kuusmik, Valeri Korb, Helle Kalda, Enn Eesmaa, Mailis Reps, Eldar Efendijev, Nelli Privalova and Evelyn Sepp on 8 February;

 

The interpellation concerning Keila Hospital (No 369), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Arvo Sarapuu, Jaak Aab, Mailis Reps, Kadri Simson, Olga Sõtnik, Nikolai Põdramägi, Evelyn Sepp, Lauri Laasi, Heimar Lenk and Marika Tuus on 8 February;

 

The interpellation concerning prices of medicinal products (No 377), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Heimar Lenk, Marika Tuus, Nikolai Põdramägi and Jaak Aab on 11 February;

 

The interpellation concerning receipt and use of social tax (No 388), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Villu Reiljan, Karel Rüütli, Mai Treial, Ester Tuiksoo and Tarmo Mänd on 18 February.

 

On the motion of the Cultural Affairs Committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the National Broadcasting Act (669 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, was removed from the agenda for Tuesday’s sitting.

 

The sitting ended at 8.19 p.m.

 

The Riigikogu Press Service