By the end of this week the Cabinet should make a definite decision on whether parliament should close on the 20 October before it reopens again in February, or just take a long break to February before closing, the Minister of Justice, Hon Clive Edwards told the Tongan parliament on Monday, 10 October.

The 2012 session will open in May or June next year.

A soft closing on 20 October and an early reconvening of the Tongan Parliament in February was important, he said, because a report by the Parliamentary Committee on the NDC would be presented to the House for their deliberation and new legislation for the administration of government would be also presented.

The Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano told the House that it was the wishes of the king for Parliament to open at the beginning of its four-years term and then close at the end of four years. He said that the intention was to follow the practice overseas and for the House to reconvene whenever it is needed.

He emphasized that following a soft closure it was important for the House to open early next year because the report on the NDC would be tabled into the House for members to have a look at it.

The Minister of Finance, Hon Sunia Fili said that the intention was for a soft closing and then the House would open again in February to process legislation.

The Ministry of Justice is working on the legislation, but the minister also stressed that there were important documents for the house to look at early next year, such as the report of the Parliamentary Committee on NDC.