As a result of constitutional reforms implemented in the country in recent years, the role and place of parliament in the system of public authorities has increased significantly.
Today, along with increasing the efficiency of legislative activity of parliament, further improvement of legal mechanisms of control and analytical work of MPs is relevant. This was discussed at a seminar on “Effectiveness of implementation of parliamentary control: legal framework and practice”, held in the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan on the initiative of the Committee on legislation and judicial-legal issues.
As head of state noted at joint session of chambers of the Oliy Majlis on January 23, 2015, in new constitutional provisions, parliamentary hearings, systematic reports of members of the government, heads of state and economic management bodies on status of execution of requirements of legislation, detailed answers to questions of deputies should become everyday parliamentary practice. Based on this objective the improvement of the forms and methods of parliamentary oversight is essential.
Currently, Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis effectively used such forms of parliamentary control, as adoption of the State Budget and supervise its execution, hearing and discussing the report of the Prime Minister on topical issues of socio-economic development of the country, hearing reports of heads of ministries, state committees.
It is noteworthy that according to the Law “On amendments and additions to some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan” signed by the President on December 29, 2015, the legislation introduced new rules on parliamentary, senatorial and deputies’ inquiries.
As noted at the event, in particular the provisions relating to parliamentary inquiry as an important form of control and analytical work, though reflected in the legislation, but did not contain clear mechanisms for its direction by deupty of Legislative Chamber and member of the Senate, direction of parliamentary inquiry by chambers. Now the changes and additions made to the legislation clearly define all aspects of the institutions of deputy, senatorial, parliamentary inquiries.
Seminar participants emphasized that this form of parliamentary control is very different from other forms. In particular, it provides that Chambers of Oliy Majlis has the right to submit a parliamentary inquiry to officials of state power and administration in order to demand to give a reasoned explanation, or to state its position on implementation of laws and state programs in various spheres and other important matters within their competence.
Deputies exchanged views on legal mechanisms of its application, the procedure and timing of response to a parliamentary question by officials of state power and administration. The experience of parliaments of foreign countries in this sphere has been also analyzed.
