Meeting with members of the House Council of the Federation Council, President Vladimir Putin noted that the implementation of a number of laws regarding the social sphere is encountering problems both at federal and regional level. Neither the federal nor regional authorities have ensured that the provisions of federal law No. 122 on replacing benefits with cash payments are being properly implemented.
Mr Putin noted that draft laws on reforming the housing and utilities, healthcare and education sectors are to be examined in 2005. Efforts should be made to become fully acquainted with what is being proposed, organise full cooperation with the regions ahead of time so as to put in place the instruments needed to implement the new legal provisions, and ensure that steps are taken to explain and provide information on draft laws while they are still at the discussion stage.