He estimated up to 40 members would want to comment on the bill, but if more wanted to speak, he would limit the time for each speaker to 10 minutes. If that was the case, the debate should not take more than two days.

The government has set a budget of Bt1.56 trillion for 2007.

NLA members form standing committees.

NLA standing committees :230 of 242 members vie for positions

Up to 230 of the 242 members of the National Legislative Assembly have applied for positions on 21 standing committees. Many applied to join the panels on Local Administration, Security, Industry, Tourism, Transport, Justice, Police and Human Rights, Education and Sports.

Committees are limited to nine seats. Some members agreed to withdraw when more than nine applied, so there was no need to draw lots.

Two panels were less popular. Only three members applied to join the Committee on Independent Organisations, while only two applied for the Budget committee.

NLA member Wallop Tangkananurak proposed that NLA members who do not have any positions join the Budget committee. The lack of applicants for the Committee on Independent Organisations means it could be dissolved if no other NLA members fill the seats.

Twelve NLA members did not seek positions on standing committees, including Speaker Meechai Ruchuphan, General Charan Kullavanijaya, Wissanu Krea-ngam, and Sophon Supapong.