Discussions on the topic stemmed from the amended draft Law on Minerals.

Chairman of the NA Finance and Budget Committee, Phung Quoc Hien, said the definitions of mineral exploration, exploitation and processing were not clear in the draft law.

Chairman of the NA Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children, Dao Trong Thi, said the regulations for transferring mineral rights must be tightened and that it was crucial to have the Government involved in the deals to limit speculation.

Nguyen Van Thuan, chairman of the NA Legal Committee, agreed, saying companies should be required to meet specific criteria to be able to bid on projects or accept transfer rights.

NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu said he disagreed with a regulation that would automatically give exploitation privileges to individuals and organisations that were licensed to explore for minerals.

He said this was an unfair regulation for other individuals and organisations, and suggested that rights for exploiting minerals should be auctioned.

However, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Pham Khoi Nguyen, said if there were separate auctions for mineral exploration and exploitation, there would be a shortage of companies involved in those activities.

To ensure contributions to the State budget from mineral activities, committee members agreed that companies and individuals who were licensed to explore for minerals must deposit a specific amount of money before beginning operations.

The same day, the NA Standing Committee heard a report on the settlement of voter petitions which was sent to the 7^th session of the 12^th National Assembly.

Head of the NA Ombudsman Committee, Tran The Vuong, said the NA had received 1,643 petitions. “Nearly 350 petitions have been settled by local administrations and the remainder have been sent to relevant authorities for their consideration and response,” Vuong said.

Members attributed the tardiness in settling voter complaints to shortcomings in issuing legal documents. They asked ministries and agencies to review documents guiding the Laws on Electricity, Health Insurance and Price Ordinance to amend and supplement any inappropriate clauses.