Jordan Times
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
Lower House committee to
probe SETP spending
By Ahmad Barakat
AMMAN — A Lower House committee formed Monday
will examine the Socio-Economic Transformation Plan's (SETP) record of
expenditures for the years 2001-2004.
The formation of the team of 11 deputies representing the chamber's political
blocs follows a vote late last month by the House in favour of a financial
examination of the SETP books.
Under discussion at the time of the vote was temporary law No. 2 for fiscal year
2002, which stipulated that SETP would be funded by additional grants and a
portion of privatisation proceeds because funding from the state budget was
limited.
Following the vote, Prime Minister Adnan Badran said his government welcomed any
examination and was prepared to provide all essential data.
Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali named the 11 committee members, who
yesterday held their first meeting.
Deputy Mefleh Ruheimi (Jerash), who was elected as committee president, told The
Jordan Times that the members will meet regularly in closed session on Mondays
and Wednesdays and whenever needed starting next week.
Ruheimi said there was no specific time-span for completion of the
investigation, and that outcome would depend on the committee's findings.
He said the committee will set a work plan on Monday to examine JD480 million
that were spent under the SETP in three years.
The deputy explained that the investigation will require official statements
from all concerned authorities on finances of the SETP, including privatisation
proceeds and foreign aid and grants. The committee will also investigate the
sectors and priorities that acquired SETP funding.
The SETP was launched in November 2001 upon Royal directives with the goal of
accelerating the pace of social and economic reforms and raising the quality of
citizens' living standards.
Last month, several MPs accused former Minister of Planning and International
Cooperation Bassem Awadallah of “leading a government within a government,” and
charged that he “had the upper hand on where the aid was directed.”
During the House debate on the state budget, these deputies called for closer
monitoring of the SETP, which is run by the Ministry of Planning and
International Cooperation, as well as giving the House the authority to assess
the programme.