Kuwait parliamentary committees tackle housing issue

National Assembly's Committee of Legal and Legislative Affairs on Wednesday approved two amendments to the housing care law No 47 (1993). The parliamentary committee also blessed a bill concerning environment protection, amendment of the army law, but turned down two bills related to social security law. Committee rapporteur Dr. Abdul-Karim Al-Kanderi said in a statement the commission endorsed a bill to modify Law No. 47 (1993) with respect of housing care, essentially stipulating that a citizen who sells the government-provided property is entitled for rental subsidy for two years. The commission adjourned a decision on the same law with respect of paying the pricing sum for houses, ranging between KD 200 and KD 300, fur further examination. Dr. Al-Kanderi indicated at the committee approval of a bill for the environmental protection AND said it was submitted to the competent committee. Moreover, the commission blessed a proposed amendment of the Law NO 32 (1967) regarding the army, where non-commissioned officers will be entitled to proceed with their studies and get a university certificate -- a matter that is intended to "strengthen the Kuwait Army." The commission turned down a proposed modification on the social service law, related to retirement age for women after 15 years in service. It also rejected another suggested amendment on the same law with respect of lowering the retirement age of the insured, without calculating the work duration, he said, adding that the two bills were rejected "due to their effects on the retirement funds and prospected cause of huge losses." Meanwhile, the NA Housing Affairs Committee discussed procedures to call for an open meeting grouping MPs and competent private and public authorities, "with emphasis on serious participation in efforts to find practical and realistic solutions compatible with needs of the Kuwaiti society and resolve the housing problem." Its rapporteur, MP Rakan Al-Nisf, said after the commission meeting that the conferees discussed "an action plan to determine technical and financial aspects of the parties that will be involved in execution of mega housing ventures." They also discussed terms for participation of the private sector, local and international companies in execution of such ventures, as well as involvement of the private sector with aim of shortening citizens' waiting period. The commission will hold more meetings until "a real draft plan is reached to resolve the housing problem in line with the pledges to accomplish the tasks as soon as possible," he stated.