General planning on construction of Hanoi and the proposed north-south high-speed train will top the agenda of the National Assembly (NA) session, scheduled to last in Hanoi from May 20 to June 25.
The NA’s seventh session was also expected to approve 12 new laws and debate 10 draft laws as well as two draft resolutions, NA Office director Tran Dinh Dan told the NA Standing Committee which started its 29th week-long meeting on March 15.
Discussing the draft Law on Housing and Land Tax, most lawmakers disagreed with taxing houses because homes were real property closely connected to long-term efforts by their owners. They proposed non-imposition of tax on houses and suggested that this Law be called the Law on Non-Agricultural Land Use Tax.
The NA’s Economic and Budgetary Committee said that land tax would not significantly impact the life of taxpayers but would encourage effective use of land and preservation of the land fund, and limit land speculation.
Regarding environmental tax, NA Standing Committee members agreed that tax should be imposed on polluting products but expressed confusion about taxpayers. Deputy Dao Trong Thi said while producers had to pay environmental tax, consumers should pay fees to purchase environmentally harmful products.
Some deputies recommended a tender process for mineral exploration and exploitation when debating the draft Law on Minerals (revised).