Cabinet mulls uses for unspent billions

The Cabinet on Tuesday agreed that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should allocate the 4 per cent of last year’s Bt2.52-trillion national budget that was left unspent.

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said he would push for the completion of Bt6 billion worth of projects instigated by local administrative bodies. 

He cautioned that the legality of the proposal would have to be assessed since the money would not be spent freely and unconditionally to prevent corruption.

Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana said he believed several billion baht was unspent and that a stimulus package expected to amount to Bt170 billion would be tabled for the Cabinet’s consideration.

Government spokeswoman Naruemol Pinyosinwat said Prayut had instructed Cabinet members to examine their ministries’ unspent budgets and propose uses for the leftover money before the next fiscal year begins on October 1.

She noted Prayut’s suggestion that the money be spent on projects that come under the government’s “12 urgent policies” announced last month.

The Cabinet also heard Undergraduate Studies Minister Suvit Maesincee propose that the spending focus on the bio-, circular and green economy, and on people’s needs at the grass-roots level.