MPs press for second livestock company

KUWAIT: The National Assembly's legal and legislative committee yesterday approved proposed amendments to extend the financial support provided to Kuwaitis employed in the private sector to stateless people known as bedoons and children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis. Head of the committee MP Mohammad Al-Dallal said the panel unanimously approved the proposal, but rejected another one calling to increase social allowance for Kuwaitis in the private sector.

In a bid to encourage Kuwaitis to seek jobs in the private sector to reduce pressure on government jobs, the government began years ago to provide monthly financial support to Kuwaitis employed in the private sector. The proposal wants the allowance to be also given to bedoons and children of Kuwaiti women from foreign husbands. The proposal was sent to the financial affairs committee, which will study it and send its opinion to the Assembly for a vote.

The panel also approved a proposal to set up two government universities in Ahmadi and Jahra. Dallal said the committee will study in its next meeting a new version of the anti-corruption law and complete it. It also approved a law calling to exempt single children from compulsory military conscription.

Health Minister Jamal Al-Harbi said yesterday that there were 18 medical errors in the past three years (2014-2016) and that 79 investigations were launched by the ministry. In reply to a question by MP Mohammad Al-Huwailah, the minister said prices of medical services in the private sector are noted by the ministry's health licenses department. The price lists cannot be changed for one year, he said. He said that medical institutions in the private sector are subject to continuous supervision by a specialized committee set up by the ministry.

Rapporteur of the financial and economic affairs committee MP Safa Al-Hashem said yesterday the committee discussed the government's failure to implement a law calling to set up a second state-owned cattle importing company. She said the committee heard the opinions of livestock experts. She said figures related to food security are inaccurate, adding that the finance minister does not want to establish the company.

By B Izzak