Clarifying the hierarchy and delegation of authority in price stabilization.

According to the agenda of the 10th Session of the 15th National Assembly, it is expected that this afternoon, November 12th, the National Assembly will discuss in the plenary session the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Prices. On the sidelines of the 10th Session of the 15th National Assembly, many delegates expressed their agreement with the direction of strengthening decentralization and delegation of power in price management and stabilization, but also requested clarification of the scope, responsibilities, and implementation capacity at the grassroots level.

Representative Hoang Van Cuong ( Hanoi delegation) argued that a key new point in the draft is the increased decentralization and delegation of authority in price stabilization and commodity price control. According to the representative, policies and guidelines for price stabilization should be issued at the provincial level, where there is sufficient authority and overall management capacity. The commune level should not issue its own policies but should only have the role of organizing implementation, monitoring, detecting, and reporting any irregularities during the implementation of price stabilization measures in its area.

Representative Hoang Van Cuong also highly appreciated the addition of regulations on price management in public service sectors such as aviation, education , and healthcare, but he argued that the draft still lacks a clear mechanism for price declaration and inspection for essential goods that significantly affect people's lives.

The delegates emphasized that for goods subject to price declaration regulations, businesses or sellers have the right to set their own prices but must declare, register, and publicly disclose the prices to the management agency, and adhere to the registered prices. In case of market fluctuations, for example, shortages of goods, sellers are not allowed to arbitrarily increase prices abnormally for profit. When there are signs of price increases exceeding the declared levels without objective reasons, the authorities will conduct inspections and take action according to regulations.

"In other words, the right to set prices belongs to the businesses, but it comes with the responsibility to declare, publicize, and be accountable for the registered prices. If they want to adjust prices upwards, they must re-declare them, and if the increase is unreasonable and there are no clear market changes, the regulatory agency has the right to review and handle the profiteering behavior," Representative Hoang Van Cuong clearly stated.

Representative Tran Van Lam ( Bac Ninh delegation) requested the drafting committee to clarify the decentralization and delegation of authority in price management. The representative agreed with the delegation of authority being consistent with the two-tiered local government model, but emphasized the need for detailed and specific regulations to ensure harmony between decentralization and power control, avoiding a situation of "different prices in different places," and simultaneously strengthening confidence in the overall stability of the market.

National Assembly representative Pham Van Hoa from Dong Thap province speaks in the assembly hall about the draft Law on Execution of Criminal Sentences (amended), on the morning of November 12. Photo: Doan Tan/TTXVN.

From a practical perspective, delegate Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap delegation) argued that stabilizing the prices of essential goods for people's lives is very necessary. He proposed that the Government clearly define the list of goods subject to price stabilization, such as food, and clarify the responsibilities of local authorities in managing prices and coordinating with ministries and agencies in the implementation process.

According to the Government's submission, this draft amendment to the Law shifts the responsibility for implementing price stabilization from the People's Committees at the district level (as assigned by the province) to the People's Committees at the commune level; supplements and adjusts the list of goods and services whose prices are determined by the State; unifies regulations on specialized price inspections with the law on inspection; and updates the names of ministries, sectors, and competent agencies to conform with the new organizational structure.

Notably, the draft Law also adds regulations on infrastructure usage services in industrial parks, economic zones, high-tech zones, concentrated digital technology zones, and industrial clusters invested with state budget funds, including them in the list of goods and services whose prices are determined by the State. Accordingly, provincial People's Committees will have the authority to determine specific prices to ensure consistency, reduce administrative procedures, and increase local autonomy.

Strengthening decentralization and delegation of authority in the field of pricing is expected to help localities be more flexible in management, respond promptly to market fluctuations, and at the same time ensure the roadmap for "accurate and complete" pricing of public services as required by the State.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/lam-ro-hon-phan-cap-phan-quyen-trong-binh-on-gia-20251112090959975.htm