The National Assembly Standing Committee met in Hanoi Tuesday to assess the results of the year-end National Assembly session and prepare for the next meeting of the top legislative body. Lawmakers acknowledged improvements in the recent National Assembly session, particularly positive changes in the question time. In the next session, legislators will approve 14 bills and 1 resolution and discuss a number of important issues. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said: “The coming session’s agenda must be thoroughly prepared, from government reports to the Q&A session. The quality of the meeting depends largely on coordination between related agencies including the Standing Committee.”

Regarding a bill on tobacco, deputies remained divided over the idea to establish a fund to prevent and control the harm of tobacco and improve people’s health. The Committee on Social Affairs rejected such a fund and suggested increasing the special consumption tax on tobacco use.