Panel backs revised 2023 budget

B7. 64bn reallocated to other schemes

Banyat: Some agencies get cuts
Banyat: Some companies get cuts

The House panel examining the budget expenses for fiscal 2023 approved a modified spending plan by which 7. 64 billion dollars baht has been cut and reallocated, says a committee spokesman.

Under the revised bill, the committee has scaled down the spending associated with several agencies worth 7. 64 billion dollars baht in total, mentioned Dr Banyat Jetjan, a Democrat MP for Rayong plus panel spokesman.

The Defence Ministry faces the largest chop of 2 . 77 billion baht, followed by local administrative organisations (742 mil baht) and the Education and learning Ministry (737 mil baht).

Dr Banyat said the money has been reallocated to support 10 strategies under various agencies.

They are the Farmers Rehabilitation and Development Fund (500 million baht); wellness service improvement (1. 84 billion baht); an education subsidy (2. 4 billion); rice strain improvement and rice wheat distribution (1. 25 billion); and promotion of rice stress changes (1 billion).

Some other recipients are the Office of the Attorney Common (230 million); work of the Court associated with Justice (192 million); National Anti Problem Commission (154 mil baht); Election Commission (81 million); as well as the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Organisation (8. 2 million baht).

He said budget requests by the Foreign Ministry, Thai Red Combination Society and Regal Office were accepted without any changes.

The committee will inform the House speaker that the budget bill is now looking forward to its second and final readings, tentatively scheduled for Aug 17-19, Dr Banyat said.

Under the constitution, this bill must crystal clear the House within 105 days of it getting submitted to the Home.

Doctor Banyat said the particular panel also produced some observations in regards to the bill after choosing the expenditure plan had not been in line with the country’s financial recovery hopes.

The committee has also made recommendations about how to raise state revenue including widening the tax foundation, increasing efficiency in collection of land taxes, building and inheritance taxes, introducing the windfall tax, plus levying a tax on profits from stock market investments.

The several. 18-trillion-baht budget costs passed its first reading in the House in early June with 278 votes in prefer and 194 towards. A 72-member committee was set up to scrutinise the bill.