Bangkok: The Senate is preparing to tighten its belt on the 70 billion baht budget, specifically focusing on the 2017 budget, by cutting expenses for overseas travel and entertainment and requiring senators to pay for their own meals, starting April 27.

According to Thai News Agency, the recent 5th/2026 meeting of the Senate's Ad Hoc Committee on Senate Affairs, chaired by Senate President Mongkol Surasajja, included a resolution to establish an ad hoc committee to study the draft of the 2027 Fiscal Year Budget Act. This step follows the House of Representatives' acceptance in principle.

In preparing the 2027 budget, the Senate is reducing expenditures by cutting funds earmarked for travel expenses to bilateral meetings and overseas visits, as well as entertainment expenses for senators during parliamentary sessions, to align with policy objectives.

The meeting also resolved to change the guidelines for providing lunch to senators. The Senate Secretariat has been tasked with arranging for restaurants to provide lunch services in the senators' dining room at the Parliament building, with senators covering their own meal costs starting April 27, 2026.

Other significant agenda items included the review of two committee reports: one on policy proposals for developing graduates to meet labor market needs, and another on fostering fair competition in e-commerce. Additionally, preparations are underway to establish a standing committee to examine the background, conduct, and ethics of a nominee for the Constitutional Court judge position.