The Shoura's secretary-general, Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, said that the recommendation, which would lead to enhancing health facilities and services across the Kingdom, was passed with a majority of votes.

He added that the council would also have representatives from the Ministry of Education for coordination between the two bodies. He recalled that the Council of Ministers had earlier taken a decision to set up a supreme body to supervise health activities throughout the Kingdom.

The house also approved a draft Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations between Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Al-Ghamdi.

He indicated that the decision was made on a recommendation made by the council's Foreign Affairs Committee. According to the decision, the two countries will strengthen cooperation and consultations with regards to bilateral relations, as well as exchange views about regional and international issues of common concern.

The members also studied a recommendation made by the Foreign Affairs Committee on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). The secretary- general said that the members would study how best some of the important clauses of the convention could be strategically included in the local context.

Al-Ghamdi said that a strategy in line with the international convention would help the Kingdom coordinate anti-corruption programs both within the Kingdom and in the region.

Reviewing the annual report of the General Presidency for Youth Welfare (GPYW), the house noted that the annual budget allocated amounted to SR1.7 billion of which SR800 million was spent on maintenance, an amount that was deemed excessive. Some members, however, said more funds are necessary for maintenance due to increasing numbers of sports facilities.

Members also felt that local clubs should increase the number of Saudi players and concentrate on achieving 100 percent Saudization among referees. Clubs are allowed to presently hire four players from outside the Kingdom.

“This should be gradually reduced,” said members.

The council also listened to a report presented by Abdulrahman Al-Yami on the council's participation in the Third Parliamentary Forum on Shaping the Information Society, which recently concluded in Geneva, said Al-Ghamdi.

On Sunday morning Shoura Council Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh held a meeting with a Bahraini parliamentary delegation headed by Khalifa Al-Zahrani, speaker of the Bahrain's Parliament.

Al-Ghamdi said the two heads discussed issues of common interest. The visiting speaker also met Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in Jeddah on Saturday.