New Delhi, June 21: The month-long monsoon session of Parliament will begin on July 21. This was decided today at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Parliamentary affairs minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters after the meeting that the session would conclude on August 22.

The session will have altogether 22 sittings spread over 33 days, Swaraj said, adding that several important bills would be considered and passed during the session.

The legislations included Foreigners` Amendment Bill, Representation of People Act Amendment Bill, Central Vigilance Commission Bill, Indian Council of World Affairs Bill, Airport Authority of India Bill and Fiscal Management Amendment Bill.
Replying to a question on the issue of Women`s Reservation Bill, she said that Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi had recently convened a meeting which failed to reach a consensus.

Whenever the Speaker informed the government about political parties reaching a consensus on the bill, it would be brought forward in parliament, she added.
Bureau Report