MINSK, 24 August (BelTA) – Belarusian MPs will consider the budget bill for 2011 at an extraordinary, fifth session. Vladimir Andreichenko, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, briefed President of the country Alexander Lukashenko on the preparations for the session, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service. The MPs will consider a range of important bills that will contribute to the nation's prosperity in 2011, Vladimir Andreichenko said. One of them is the budget bill for 2011. It will be socially-oriented. The bill secures significant expenses on the increase in wages and also pensions, scholarships, allowances. The expenditures on healthcare will be increased by 30%. Large expenses are set aside for the development of material-technical base of educational institutions. The MPs will consider a block of issues relating to the amendments to the tax legislation. Thus, the amendments will be introduced to the Tax Code, as the country's tax system is simplified and the tax burden on companies is reduced. In particular, next year service tax and duties for infrastructure development are expected to be abolished; the rates of land and real estate taxes are to be revised; the procedure of VAT as well as profit tax payment is to be simplified. According to Vladimir Andreichenko, all the aforesaid is meant for enhancing Belarus’ investment attractiveness and creation of necessary prerequisites for more active development of the entrepreneurship in the country. The meeting also focused on the preparations for the 6th session of the House of Representatives which is due on 4 October. The parliamentarians will consider 49 bills, with the Education Code and Housing Code to be among the most important. In November the House of Representatives is expected to conduct parliamentary debates on the draft law on the state innovation policy. Other issues related to the international activity of the House of Representatives, the work of parliamentarians in the constituencies were on the agenda of the meeting.

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