Bangkok: A spokesperson for the Secretariat of the House of Representatives clarified observations regarding the benefits of the fund for former members of parliament.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Nattakrit Wongcharoen, Deputy Secretary-General of the House of Representatives and spokesperson for the Office of the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, addressed concerns about the fund's benefits for former parliamentarians. He explained the specifics of two main points of contention: medical expense reimbursements and financial assistance for children's education.
Firstly, the reimbursement policy for medical expenses, specifically annual health check-ups capped at 130,000 baht per year, was considered excessive. Mr. Wongcharoen noted that the Committee for the Fund for Former Members of Parliament (No. 4) B.E. 2567 amended the definition of "medical treatment" to include annual health check-ups. The committee argued that preventive health check-ups could ultimately save the government more money than would be spent on treatments, keeping within the 130,000 baht annual limit.
Secondly, concerns were raised about the financial assistance provided for the education of children of former Members of Parliament, particularly for international school tuition. The observation was that full tuition reimbursement for international schools was excessive. Mr. Wongcharoen clarified that Article 45 of the Regulations of the Fund Committee, B.E. 2556 (2013) and its amendments, set criteria for disbursing assistance. Legitimate children, excluding adopted children or those given up for adoption, are eligible from first grade to a bachelor's degree, with age restrictions and limitations if both parents are parliament members. Payments follow the Ministry of Finance's prescribed rates, with educational assistance depending on whether the school is a private institution receiving subsidies. The financial aid for international schools ranges from approximately 13,200 to 25,000 baht per academic year.
The Secretariat of the House of Representatives is tasked with fund disbursement under the Act on the Fund for Former Members of Parliament, effective since May 23, 2013. Should fund regulations require amendments, they can be proposed to the Committee on House of Representatives Affairs and the Fund Committee.