SECTION 21

(1) Each year, after the election of the Permanent Bureau, the National Assembly shall set up 9 (nine) General Committees comprising equal numbers of Members of the National Assembly for consideration of matters referred to them. They shall be as follows: (a) Committee on Constitutional Laws, Human Rights and Freedoms, Justice, Legislation and Standing Orders and Administration: constitution, standing orders, legal status of persons, justice, local government, etc. (b) Committee on Finance and the Budget: budget, taxation, financial contributions, currency and credit, budgetary control, etc. (c) Foreign Affairs Committee : treaties, international conventions, etc. (d) Committee on National Defence and Security: national defence, armed forces, gendarmerie, national security, military justice, fire brigade, etc. (e) Committee on Economic Affairs, Planning and Regional Development: regional development, programme laws, State lands, State corporations, town planning, equipment, public works, etc. (f) Committee on Education, Vocational Training and Youths: primary and secondary education and higher education, mass education, etc. (g) Committee on Cultural, Social and Family Affairs: culture, arts, information, communication, public health, recreational activities, social activities, social welfare, family, women, children, senior citizens, etc. (h) Committee on Production and Trade: agriculture, livestock, forestry, hunting, fisheries, energy and industries, tourism, scientific research, consumption, domestic and foreign trade, etc. (i) Committee on Resolutions and Petitions: consideration of draft resolutions, petitions, internal activities of the National Assembly and inter- parliamentary relations of the National Assembly. (2) However, considering the importance of a bill in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the nation, the Chairmen's Conference may decide to submit such bill for consideration by the whole House. (3) Proceedings of the House shall be limited to general debate on the said bill whereas substantive debate and the final draft shall be left to the relevant General Committee. (4) The President of the National Assembly shall preside over the deliberations of the House. (5) General Committees may set up Sub-committees. (6) With the exception of the Committee on Finance and the Budget, which may sit as and when necessary, the other Committees and Sub- committees may validly sit only during sessions. (7) "The modalities for holding meetings of the Committee on Finance and the Budget during recess shall be determined by Bureau Order of the National Assembly".