LOWER HOUSE SUPPORTS ESTABLISHMENT OF MINISTRY FOR DEFENDERS ( Editorial: --> 0021 )

( Editorial: --> 0021 ) ZAGREB, 21 Nov (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament House of Representatives on Friday continued its session with a discussion on a bill on changes and amendments to the Act on the Organisation and Jurisdiction of Ministries and State Administration Organisations. With this bill the Government proposes the establishment of a ministry for Croatian Homeland war defenders, said Assistant Administration Minister Antun Palaric. That ministry would take over the tasks the State Administration for Care for Demobilised Defenders and Homeland War Victims has been entrusted with so far. The ministry would also take over all the tasks of the Defence Ministry concerning social care for war invalids and their families, legal position and protection of invalids, widows and children of killed defenders, defenders who were imprisoned in enemy camps and their families and the families of missing defenders. Taking over the tasks of the Defence Ministry, the new ministry would also take over employees currently in charge of those tasks, Palaric said. The Government has also proposed that a special administrative organisation called the State Inspectorate be founded. The Inspectorate would encompass the work of all economic inspections. The proposed bill would also reinforce the State Administration for Environmental Protection by adding to its jurisdiction the protection of natural heritage, Palaric said. The proposal on the establishment of the ministry for Croatian Defenders received unanimous support from parliamentary committees, benches and MPs. (hina) jn rm 211520 MET nov 97