Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon.

Mr Shuvalov, given that the gas blockade, staged by the Ukrainian government, has affected European consumers, we are devoting much time and effort to this problem. Nonetheless, we also have a great deal of current issues that we must keep in mind and address. Because of the world economic and financial crisis, some of our companies and even industries are facing certain challenges, including the aggravating situation in the labour market. We have made certain decisions to alleviate the consequences of the global financial and economic crisis.

Late last year, on December 31, I signed a governmental resolution to allocate extra funds - 43.7 billion roubles - to Russian regions that have already suffered from such challenges. Namely, it concerns the regions where crisis-struck industries are the most developed, and also regions where there are so-called city forming companies. Before allotting funds to regions, however, it is necessary for local governments to submit corresponding employment programs, with governmental ministries and agencies considering them in due time. What is the progress on this work?

Igor Shuvalov: Mr Prime Minister, under the Government's decision that you just mentioned, local authorities are to submit employment programs to the Government by January 15. These programs must be coordinated with the Healthcare and Social Development Ministry. Thus far, such programs have been developed and submitted by the Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk, Lipetsk, and Yaroslavl Regions, as well as the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Other programs are being worked out at the moment.

Despite the fact that it is holiday-time now, and most people are away on holiday, local employment services and the Healthcare and Social Development Ministry are addressing these issues in full.

We expect to receive employment programs from all Russian regions by January 15. As far as submitted programs are concerned, the ministries will be ready with reports on them by January 11, so that they may be considered during a meeting of an ad hoc group headed by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov. Since various ministries and agencies share responsibility for financing these programs, they will be considered on January 12 at a meeting of a special working group. These are local programs, but they will be financed from two sources - local budgets and the federal budget.

After being considered at the meeting of the working group, these materials will be considered at a meeting of the Governmental Commission on Sustainable Development of the Russian Economy, with results reported to you on January 12. It will take us about two weeks to transfer money to local authorities. These are additional funds; they were taken from the federal budget under the instructions you gave in the last quarter of 2008.

Vladimir Putin: I hope that this task will be fulfilled in time and that on January 12, the documents submitted by local governments will be considered. I grant you a maximum of three more weeks to launch fund transfers to regions.

Igor Shuvalov: We will do it, Mr Prime Minister.