Parliament transacts substantial business during first week of Winter Session

Substantial Legislative Business was transacted during the first week of Winter Session of Parliament that commenced on November 24.

However, no Legislative Business could be taken up on the first day as both the Houses were adjourned due to death of sitting members after the oath taking by new members, introduction of new ministers and obituary references.

But two Bills pertaining to reform of Labour Laws were passed.

The Bills passed by the Lok Sabha included The Delhi Police Special Establishment Act (Amendment) Bill, 2014, The Labour Laws(Exemption from Furnishing Records and Maintaining Registers by Certain Establishments) Amendment Bill, The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2014,The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Bill, 2014 and The Constitution Scheduled Castes Orders (Amendment ) Bill,2014.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Labour Laws (exemption from filing returns and maintaining registers by certain establishments) Amendment Bill, 2014, The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act (Amendment) Bill, 2014 and The Apprentices Act (Amendment) Bill.

Both the Houses passed two Bills during the first week: The Labour Laws Amendment Bill and The Delhi Special Police Establishment Bill.

The Apprentices Act (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha during the last session while the same was passed by Rajya Sabha during this session.

The government made suo-moto statements on the issues of Indian hostages in Iraq and WTO talks in the Lok Sabha.

A similar statement was also made in the Rajya Sabha on WTO talks while the government's response on the hostages issue was made after members spoke on the issue.

Both the Houses discussed the issue of bringing back the black money from foreign banks while the Rajya Sabha took up the issue of dilution of MNREGA under Calling Attention Motion.

The Rajya Sabha took up two Private Members Bills for discussion which were Compulsory Military Training Bill to which Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar replied, besides the Fertilizer Prices Control Bill on which the discussion remained inconclusive.

The Lok Sabha also took up two Private Members Bills. The Central Himalayan States Development Council Bill which was withdrawn after discussion and reply by the minister. Discussion on The Acid (Control) Bill remained inconclusive.

Legislative business proposed by the government for the next week include Introduction and Consideration and Passing of The Textile Undertakings (Nationalisation) Laws (Amendment and Validation) Bill to replace an Ordinance, The Merchant Shipping(Amendment) Bill, 2013 and The Merchant Shipping (Second Amendment) Bill,2013 and Supplementary Demands for Grants and concerned Appropriation Bill, in both the Houses.

Besides, the Rajya Sabha will take up for consideration and passing The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Bill and The Constitution Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2014 and The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2014 that have been passed by the Lok Sabha.

The Coal Mines Allocation Special Provisions Bill to replace an Ordinance, The Anti-hijacking Bill, Bills relating to repealing of antiquated laws and Legislative Councils of Tamil Nadu and Assam and The School of Planning and Architecture Bill, 2014, are also on the government's legislative agenda.