MOSCOW, August 27 (AVN) - The Russian government has submitted the draft 2002 federal budget to the State Duma lower house of parliament, the government information department reported on Monday.
The draft budget has never been submitted ahead of schedule before, the report said. Besides, it is the first budget that takes into account two variants of the country's social and economic development, one conservative and the other optimist.
The 2002 budget for the first time features the financial reserve of almost RUR60bn (USD2.04bn) that may be spent on improving consequences of possible unfavourable economic situation.
Federal budget revenues are expected to make RUR1,998bn (USD68.02bn) while expenses will equal RUR1,872bn (USD63.73bn). Proficit is to make almost RUR126bn (USD4.29bn).
The draft aims to create a possibility to increase wages of state-owned enterprises' employees, start holding true military and judicial reforms. In particular, it envisages introduction of the jury trial in 83 component parts of the Russian Federation, a 40-percent increase in wages of state-owned enterprises' employees and a 70 to 100 percent increase in servicemen's salaries.
More funds are allocated to research institutions for payment for public utilities. Besides, the budget provides financing for 38 federal purpose-oriented programmes contributing to the scientific and technical progress.
The biggest share of allocations making RUR406.25bn (USD13.83bn) will go for the social policy. RUR289.37bn (USD9.86bn) will go for servicing of the state and municipal debt, RUR281.97bn (USD9.6bn) for the national defence and RUR245.35bn (USD8.35bn) for financial assistance to budgets of other levels. Almost RUR166bn (USD5.65bn) will be spent on law-enforcement activities, RUR53bn (USD1.8bn) on the industry, energy production and construction, almost RUR30bn (USD1.02bn) on science, RUR22bn (USD748.94m) on agriculture and fishing, over RUR1.5bn (USD51.06m) on employment of the populations and some RUR1.3bn (USD44.26m) on assistance to migrants. Some RUR9bn (USD306.38m) will go for transportation of winter cargo to populated localities of the Extreme North.