Cabinet approves billions of budget

 The Royal Thai Army won the approval for the purchase of machine guns from Israel and aircraft, according to Vichienchote Sukchokrat, PM's Office spokesman.

 "All the deals were proposed to the Cabinet on the same day and they all are approved," he said, when asked why the Army won the approval for several arms purchase deals.

 The Cabinet also approved the Bt774 million budget for the construction of the new Parliament Building in Kiak Kai area. While Bt328 million would come from the budget allocated to the Parliament's secretariat, the remaining Bt446.4 million comes from the central budget.

 An amount of Bt100 million is set aside for the survey and design, and Bt446.4 million is earmarked for the purchase of a 39-rai land plot.

 "The prime minister told the Cabinet that the construction project would proceed as planned and inisted that Kiak Kai is the most appropriate location," said Nattawut Saikua, deputy government spokesman.

 The Cabinet also approved the increase in allowances for power state enterprises' employees, regardless of the fact that some of them join the anti-government protest.

 The Cabinet also agreed that Samut Prakan province must complete the Bt22.9 billion Khlong Dan water treatment project, which is 98 per cent complete. However, the state lawsuit against politicians and construction companies over a corruption case would proceed. The construction of the project has been frozen since 2006 when the lawsuit was filed.

 Approved the Cabinet, provincial households are also offered free water bills during October 2008 and March 2009, if they consume less than 50 cubic metres a month. The approval would cover 698,386 households. The government estimates that the approval would cost the state about Bt540 million during the six months.

 The Cabinet also approved a Bt1 billion budget to finance the career training programme for the youth in the Deep South.