The Speaker brought to the attention of the House erroneous information printed in one of the Daily Newspapers pertaining to the provision of Papers Laid to Members of Parliament and the Media, and explained the process by which such documents are made available.

Nine Papers were laid, eight in the name of the Minister of Finance and one in the name of the Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education. Four Papers were referred to the Public Accounts Committee and five to the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee. See the Supplemental Order Paper for details.

Five Questions qualify for oral answer. Three questions were answered (153, 154 and 170). See the Order Paper for details.

13 Questions qualify for written answer. The responses to Questions 56 and 84 were circulated. See the Order Paper for details.

The Member for Tabaquite sought leave of the House to raise as a Matter of Privilege the Government’s refusal to give answers to a substantial number of the Questions on the Order Paper. The Speaker ruled that in his opinion a prima facie case had been made out and he referred the Matter to the Committee of Privileges for consideration and report.

The Minister of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources made a Statement in the House on Government’s Plan to Transform the Agricultural Sector with specific reference to the establishment of supporting governance arrangements for State Corporations attached to the agricultural sector.

The Attorney General moved the Second Reading of the Bail (Amendment) Bill, 2008. The Member for Tabaquite was first to join the debate, followed by the Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, who made her maiden contribution. In all, some five members made contributions before the Attorney General began her wind up of the debate. The Bill was later read a third time and passed, without amendments. Since the Bill required a special majority a division was taken. The result of the division was 26 for, none against and 11 abstentions.

The Leader of the House then moved that the House continue to sit until the completion of matters on the Adjournment. Leave was granted. The Member for Siparia raised the matter of the Government’s non provision of funding to prevent flooding in the Penal/Debe Region. The Minister of Local Government responded.

The Member for St. Augustine then raised the matter of the transfer of 43.8 percent of Home Mortgage Bank shares to Stone Street Capital. The Minister of Finance responded.

The Member for Caroni Central raised the matter of flooding in Caparo, Palmiste, Todd’s Road, Mamoral and Longdenville. The Minister of Works and Transport responded.

The Member for Caroni East raised the matter of the failure of the Minister of Health to publish the Findings of the Inquiry into the payment of five million dollars in overtime to doctors in the Pediatric Department of Port-of-Spain General Hospital. The Minister of Health responded.

The House adjourned to Wednesday July 23, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. On that occasion the House will consider the Pension (Amendment)(No.2) Bill, 2008, the Teachers’ Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2008 and the Assisted Secondary School Teachers’ Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2008. It is expected that the Bills will be debated together since they are related.