Volume 94 Monday No 11 4 April 2016

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS

Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer Not Answered by End of Question Time

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10 Information on Specifications of Cars Manufactured Abroad (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 1 19 Eligibility of Tax Rebate for Electric Cars (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 1 20 Trial of Electric Vehicle Car-sharing Programme (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 2 23 Pioneer Generation and Other Subsidies for Elderly Patients not Physically Present to Collect Medications (Assoc Prof ) 2 INFORMATION ON SPECIFICATIONS OF CARS MANUFACTURED ABROAD

10 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport (a) how are officers at LTA and the vehicle inspection centres kept abreast of changes in the specifications of cars manufactured abroad; and (b) why are some car exhaust systems not allowed even though these may emit lower noise levels and are well within the decibels allowed.

Mr : All imported vehicles have to be approved by LTA before they can be registered for use. As part of the approval process, the importer has to provide the full specifications of the vehicle model. From this, LTA will know if there is any change in the vehicle specifications. Car exhaust systems must comply with both LTA’s safety regulations and the noise and emissions standards set by the National Environment Agency. Car exhaust systems that meet noise standards but fail emissions or safety standards will not be allowed. Back to Contents ELIGIBILITY OF TAX REBATE FOR ELECTRIC CARS

19 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport (a) what are the criteria to assess whether an electric car is eligible for tax rebates; and (b) how long does it take to process the tax rebate application.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: An electric car is treated no differently from any other car under the Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS). Even though electric cars produce no tailpipe emissions, the process of generating the electricity they consume emits carbon. This has to be taken into consideration when we assess whether to give them a carbon emissions rebate or levy a surcharge. If it is assessed to produce equivalent low CO2 emissions, it is eligible for a rebate off its Additional Registration Fee. If it is assessed to produce high equivalent CO2 emissions, a surcharge is levied.

For new cars, its CO2 emissions for the purposes of CEVS are based on requisite test reports from the manufacturers. On the other hand, used cars imported into Singapore will need to undergo testing at accredited vehicle testing centres to determine their CO2 emissions. 2

The rebate or surcharge is applied immediately at the point of registration. Back to Contents TRIAL OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CAR-SHARING PROGRAMME

20 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether he can give an update on the outcome of the trial of the Electric Vehicle Car-Sharing Programme; (b) how many private electric cars have been registered in the past two years; and (c) what is the Ministry's position on encouraging car owners to switch to electric cars.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Economic Development Board had earlier issued a Request for Information (RFI) to invite proposals for an electric vehicle car-sharing programme. The proposals are being evaluated and the result of the RFI will be announced soon. Two private electric cars, a new Peugeot Ion and a used Tesla Model S, were registered in the past two years. We are neutral as to the type of technology cars use. Our position is that we want to encourage environmental-friendliness and minimise emissions. Back to Contents PIONEER GENERATION AND OTHER SUBSIDIES FOR ELDERLY PATIENTS NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT TO COLLECT MEDICATIONS

23 Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Health whether there can be exceptions made for Pioneer Generation (PG) patients who are not able to be physically present to collect medications and supplies due to mobility conditions and other factors, to still be able to utilise their PG subsidies and the Medication Assistance Fund.

Mr : For Pioneer Generation (PG) patients with mobility restrictions, their care-givers can collect the prescribed medications and supplies on their behalf. The same subsidies will apply whether the PG patient collects the medications and supplies in person or through a care-giver. This includes PG subsidies as well as the Medication Assistance Fund. We will remind our healthcare institutions and staff of this arrangement, so that it is 3 implemented effectively on the ground to benefit our PG patients. Back to Contents

Office of the Clerk of Parliament Singapore, 4 April 2016