First readings of Bills to amend the Malta Enterprise Corporation Act and the resources and energy laws top the agenda of the House of Representatives, which meets today after the summer recess.

MPs are then due to start debating the Communications Laws (Amendment) Bill on second reading.

Also on the agenda is the ratification of the Malta-USA Ship-Boarding Agreement and a Bill to amend the Constitution.

Pending before the Committee for the Consideration of Bills are the Voluntary Organisations Bill, the Financial Institutions (Amendment) Bill, the Central Registry Bill, the Public Administration Bill and the Malta Standards Authority and Various Laws (Amendment) Bill.

The purpose of the Communications Laws (Amendment) Bill is to amend the Postal Services Act, the Electronic Communications (Regulation) Act and the Malta Communications Authority Act, mostly to improve the authority's powers of law enforcement.

The Ship Boarding Agreement is on the lines of agreements signed by the US with several ship registries and is aimed at enabling the law enforcement authorities of both countries to board and inspect ships flying each other's flags in order to ensure that international regulations are being respected.

The Constitution Amendment Bill provides that Gozo will be considered as one whole when electoral boundaries are drawn up. It also provides for strict proportionality in the allocation of parliamentary seats with the votes won by the political parties when candidates from only two parties are elected to the House.

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