RIYADH – Five female members participated in the discussions in the Shoura Council's second session Monday during which a number of annual performance reports for government agencies were discussed. During the discussion on the annual report of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, one of the female members asked why the Presidency does not have a five-year plan in place. She stressed the importance of having a timeframe and performance indicators for the implementation of strategic plans. During the discussion of the annual report of the committee of transport, communications, and information technology, which assessed the annual performance of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology for the last year, a female member asked why e-crimes are not being given sufficient attention. She said many people fall prey to these crimes. During the discussion on the annual report of the committee of housing, water, and public services which assesses the annual performance of the Ministry of Water and Electricity for the last year, a female member demanded that the ministry set up an affiliate water research center to meet the increasing demand for water in the Kingdom. Another female member called for reconsidering the requirements of design plans for buildings. She said it is important to rationalize the use of water and not waste electricity. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, Dr. Fahad Bin Mutaad Al-Hamad, Assistant Speaker of the Shoura Council, said that the Shoura discussed a number of annual reports of a number of government agencies. In its original form, the Council consisted of eight specialized committees. These committees were identified in December 1995. Later, the number of the committees was expanded. As of March 2011, the assembly consists of 12 committees: Islamic, Judicial Affairs, and Human Rights Committee; Social, Family, and Youth Affairs Committee; Economic Affairs and Energy Committee; Security Affairs Committee; Educational and Scientific Research Affairs Committee; Cultural and Informational Affairs Committee; Foreign Affairs Committee; Health and Environmental Affairs Committee; Financial Affairs Committee; Transportation, Communications, Information Technology Committee; Water and Public Facilities and Services Committee; Administration, Human Resources and Petitions Committee. Three women were named as deputy chairpersons of three committees on the opening day of the sixth session Sunday. – SG/SPA
