Senate approves 2009 spending plan

 Most senators urged the government to pay more attention on public health and education affairs, and review mega-project investments at the time of economic slowdown.

 Prasarn Maruekapitak questioned the allocation of Bt60 billion to Bangkok Mass Transit Authority's plan to buy 4,000 NGV-fuelled buses.

 Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Pataraprasit defended that BMTA needs new buses to ensure positive operations. Meanwhile, on public health, the government has recently increased the per-capital expenses for universal health insurance. On education, teachers are given additional financial supports; for example, teachers in the Deep South earn Bt2,500 extra.

 He insisted that as the government is restructuring the State Railway of Thailand and proceeding on mega-projects, the government would be careful in monitoring the spending.

 In the year, the expenses are set at Bt1.835 trillion. While Bt1.8 trillion is to support fixed expenses as well as expenses of state enterprises and public organisations, the remaining sum of Bt27.54 billion will be used to boost the treasury reserves.

  Some 30 senators signed up the complaint to the Constitution Court, asking the court to rule if the government is qualified to complete the budget as several ministers have served lawsuits.