(VOVworld) The 10th session of the 13^th National Assembly’s Standing Committee opened in Hanoi on Monday under the chair of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung at the opening  (source: VNA)

Chairman Hung said that the agenda includes comments on bills and supervising the implementation of the law on natural disaster management and utilizing the country’s natural resources in combination with environmental protection.  The Standing Committee will also question the Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, and the Chief Government Inspector on matters of public concern.

While discussing the revised Law on Lawyers, most delegates said that lecturers in law should be able to get involved in law consultations, but not the procedural process. Truong Thi Mai, Chairwoman of the NA Committee for Social Affairs says: “Our country lacks lawyers but we expect to have sufficient numbers in the next 5 to 10 years. Legal lecturers can now become involved in legal consultations but not in procedures as this can create a conflict of interests.”

Head of the National Assembly Office Nguyen Hanh Phuc says that lawyers should have access to cases since the beginning. “There is a problem in that the investigating agencies hesitates to allow lawyers access to cases early on, while the court wants lawyers to get involved early to make the court’s procedural process run smoother. I suggest that except for cases involving national security, lawyers should be allowed access to cases from the beginning to defend their clients and avoid unjust punishments.”

The Standing Committee later approved the establishment of the Emulation Department under the People’s Supreme Court.