Volume 94 Monday No 7 29 February 2016

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS

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

Page

24. Non-citizen Single Parents with Singaporean Children in HDB Rental Flats (Dr ) 1 26. Activation of Traffic Diversions to Ease Traffic during Oil Spills (Er Dr ) 1 27, 28. Public Education and Resolution of Online Commercial Crime (Mr and Mr Yik Chye) 2 30. Bogus Charges for Business Registration Services (Mr ) 3 31. Utilisation of ActiveSG$100 Credits (Mr ) 4 33. Impact of NS IPPT Scheme Enhancement on First-attempt Pass Rate (Mr ) 5 38. Impact of Recent CPF Changes on Number and Amount of CPF Top-up (Ms ) 6 40. Complaints about and Bookings of Errant Cyclists (Ms ) 7 41. Updates on Licensing Irregularities at Singapore Rifle Association and Singapore Gun Club (Mr Pritam Singh) 7 44. Application Rate for Additional Childcare Subsidy for Non-working Mothers (Ms Sun Xueling) 8 45. Support for Retrenched Workers and Their Families (Ms ) 9 46. Singapore's Response to Malaysia's Imposition of Higher Vehicle Permit Fees at the Causeway and Second Link (Mr ) 10 47. Adequacy of Speed Limit Signs (Mr ) 10 50. Impact of MAS's Imposition of Borrowing Limit on Easing of Individual Indebtedness (Ms Foo Mee Har) 11 53. Projected Tourist Arrivals and Hotel Rooms with Completion of Terminal 4 (Mr Gan Thiam Poh) 11 54. Employment Rights of Tertiary Students who Work Part-time (Mr Zainal Sapari) 12 56. Obesity and Physical Activity Levels among Students and Youths (Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar) 13 57. Effectiveness of Existing Disease Surveillance Programmes (Dr Chia Shi-Lu) 14 58. Recruitment Efforts of Singapore Police Force (Mr ) 15 59. Utilisation Rates of SCDF's First-Responder Apps for Civilians (Mr Ang Hin Kee) 16 60. Update on HDB's Goodwill Repair Assistance Scheme (Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap) 17 64. Paper Road Tax Discs (Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye) 18 68. Schools' Assistance to Ensure DSA Students Fulfil Academic Requirements (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 19 69. Compliance Rate for National Childhood and Adolescent Immunisation Schedule (Dr Chia Shi-Lu) 20 71. Monitoring Lift Maintenance and Repair (Ms Sun Xueling) 21 73. Review of Arts Fund Guidelines (Mr David Ong) 21 74. Supply and Demand for Pilots (Ms Tin Pei Ling) 22

NON-CITIZEN SINGLE PARENTS WITH SINGAPOREAN CHILDREN IN HDB RENTAL FLATS

24 Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many non-permanent resident/non-citizen widows/widowers with Singaporean children are currently renting a HDB flat; and (b) what are the available housing options for single mothers or fathers with Singaporean children.

Mr : There are currently 31 public rental tenants who are non-Singapore Citizen (SC) or non-Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) widows/widowers with Singaporean children. In general, they were allowed to retain the flat upon the demise of their SC spouses who had been the tenants of the flats. Single parents who are widowed or divorced and have an SC child may buy a flat from HDB, or a resale flat on the open market if they meet the prevailing eligibility criteria, such as the citizenship requirement and income ceiling. Single unmarried parents have the same housing options as singles. If they are SCs aged 35 and above, and have not received a housing subsidy before, they may buy a new 2-room Flexi flat in a non-mature estate, or a resale flat. They may also be eligible for housing grants. Single parents in hardship who have no other viable housing options or family support could also rent a flat from HDB on a case-by-case basis. Back to Contents ACTIVATION OF TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS TO EASE TRAFFIC DURING OIL SPILLS

26 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport (a) what is the procedure to activate traffic diversions to ease traffic jams when there is a major oil spill or accident on a busy road; (b) how long does it take to despatch the police to activate these diversions; (c) how long does it take to disseminate traffic news to the public to avoid the affected roads; and (d) what is the normal platform used in disseminating this traffic news.

Mr : Once a report of a major traffic incident or oil spill is received, the 2

Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Traffic Police will assess its severity. If traffic diversion is needed, the nearest Traffic Police resources will be mobilised. Traffic diversions are implemented swiftly once the Traffic Police arrives on scene, which is typically within 30 minutes of the report being received. Traffic advisories are immediately disseminated through various radio and online channels, such as the LTA Traffic News radio broadcast, the OneMotoring website, smartphone apps such as MyTransport.sg and LTA’s traffic news Twitter account. Back to Contents PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RESOLUTION OF ONLINE COMMERCIAL CRIME

27 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the solving rate for online commercial offences; (b) whether the current legislative powers are sufficient for our law enforcement officers to tackle such cases effectively; and (c) what other measures is the Ministry implementing to improve the situation.

28 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what steps is the police taking to address the significant spike in online commercial crime cases; and (b) whether the public education measures taken by the police have been effective.

Mr K Shanmugam: Online commercial crime nearly doubled from 1,929 cases in 2014 to 3,759 cases in 2015. Examples of such crimes include cheating involving e-commerce, credit- for-sex scams and Internet love scams. Police are taking active steps to address this increase. First, Police are stepping up local enforcement efforts. In 2015, Police conducted four island wide enforcement operations targeting online scams and arrested 139 persons. Persons found to be perpetrating an online scam or who knowingly assist foreign syndicates in such criminal activities will be investigated and prosecuted. Second, Police work closely with their foreign counterparts to foil such syndicates. For example, Police received reports of credit-for-sex scams committed by syndicates operating in China last year. As a result of collaboration between SPF and their Chinese counterparts, the Chinese police conducted simultaneous raids and detained 43 members of one such syndicate. Third, Police are reviewing our laws to enhance the powers for officers to deal with online 3

crime. Fourth, Police have stepped up public education programmes, to raise awareness and prevent the public from falling victim to scams. Online crimes are particularly hard to solve because of the borderless nature of the internet. A significant proportion of online commercial crimes are committed remotely by foreign syndicates. Despite our best efforts in going after the perpetrators in such online commercial crimes, they will find new ways to exploit and prey on the vulnerabilities of potential victims, and hide themselves from law enforcement agencies. Awareness and prevention are therefore critical in addressing the rise in such crimes. SPF and NCPC launched a dedicated anti-scam website, www.scamalert.sg, as a one-stop resource to keep the public abreast of the latest scams and the modus operandi of various scams. The website has attracted more than 170,000 visitors since its launch in November 2014. Police also reach out to the public at locations with high human traffic, for example, displaying posters at hawker centres, bus stops, and train stations. Crime prevention commercials are also aired on local TV channels and at over 500 office buildings. Police will continually review and improve these public education measures to ensure they stay relevant and effective. Ultimately however, beyond public education and outreach efforts, it is about how we as individuals and families are aware about the threats on the Internet and how vigilant and alert we are. We have to be cautious when we are online as the stranger on the other side may not be who he says he is, and when the offer sounds too good to be true. Back to Contents BOGUS CHARGES FOR BUSINESS REGISTRATION SERVICES

30 Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Finance what actions are taken by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) to protect companies or businesses from being misled or deceived into paying for registration services purportedly rendered by ACRA or its related agencies.

Mr : The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority or ACRA is the only statutory body responsible for the registration of companies and businesses in Singapore. ACRA does not condone any attempt to use its name or a name resembling that of ACRA’s to deceive or cause confusion to the public. ACRA will not hesitate to investigate 4

suspected breaches and prosecute offenders. Under the ACRA Act, an offender will face a maximum penalty of $10,000 and six-month imprisonment, as well as a further fine of up to $250 per day for a continuing offence after conviction. While non-Government organisations can collect information from companies through private agreements, there are safeguards against such organisations trying to pass themselves off as Government entities. Letters from government agencies, such as ACRA, have distinct letterheads, with their names and logos. Companies and other business entities are also required to state their name and registration number in all business correspondences. Those who breach this requirement are liable for a maximum fine of $1,000. In the past four years, ACRA has investigated 10 business entities for failing to properly state their name and/or registration number. In addition to having these safeguards in place, companies should exercise vigilance when dealing with any unsolicited letter or email from third parties. First, companies should check the identity of the third party or check with ACRA before engaging third parties. Companies can make use of the free business entity search function on ACRA’s website to verify the identity of the third party. Second, companies should peruse carefully all the terms and conditions set out by the third party before entering into any form of agreement. Third, companies should alert ACRA if there are any suspected wrongdoings or misrepresentations by third parties. Where companies become a victim, they should make a police report. Back to Contents UTILISATION OF ACTIVESG$100 CREDITS

31 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what has been the utilisation of ActiveSG$100 since its launch in 2014; (b) whether the Ministry has intentions to top up the amount to encourage Singaporeans to lead active lifestyles; and (c) whether a special concession for Pioneer Generation cardholders can be allowed for them to use sports facilities for free.

Ms Hai Yien: ActiveSG, the national movement for sport, was launched in April 2014. We are encouraged to see a growing membership that stands at more than 980,000 today. Thus far, almost two thirds have started to utilise their $100 ActiveSG credits to book a sports facility or sign up for a sports programme. 5

The ActiveSG credits were intended to encourage members to kick-start an active lifestyle and for them to experience the various sports facilities and programmes. Originally meant for a limited period, we announced in November last year that the credits will not expire so long as members continue to use them at least once a year. The $100 ActiveSG credits will be provided to new members who joined after 2015. We do not have any plans to top up the accounts of existing members. is committed to ensuring that ActiveSG sports facilities and programmes are kept affordable to encourage Singaporeans to lead active lifestyles. For example, admission to swimming pools does not cost more than $1.50 on weekdays and $2 on weekends, whilst walk-in gym admissions cost $2.50. Several of the programmes organised by ActiveSG, such as Sundays @ the Park, are free. As part of the SG50 Seniors Package, we gave an additional top-up of $25 ActiveSG credits to ActiveSG members aged 55 years and above in 2015. This is on top of the $100 ActiveSG credits received by all new members. All senior citizens (aged 55 and above) who are ActiveSG members also enjoy special discounted rates for admission to our gyms and swimming pools. Back to Contents IMPACT OF NS IPPT SCHEME ENHANCEMENT ON FIRST-ATTEMPT PASS RATE

33 Mr David Ong asked the Minister for Defence whether the recent enhancement to the NS IPPT system has improved the passing rate of the IPPT test for NSmen on their first attempt.

Dr : The MP has asked for comparisons of results following the change in the IPPT format from its previous five to the current three-station format. I propose to provide the data using results of the 2.4 km run and the sit-ups, as these are the two stations that were common to both formats. Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) have performed better in both these stations after the format was changed. They achieved on average an improvement of 5 sit-ups and ran 16 seconds faster for the 2.4km. Compared to the previous format, the new scoring system encourages NSmen to go all out for each station, to compensate for lower scores in any one station. NSmen can also better focus on their training with fewer stations in the new format. 6

For the push-up station, which is new, NSmen were able to perform above the median number required in each age category. For example, Full-time National Servicemen on average did 49 push-ups, while NSmen aged 34-39 performed an average of 30 push-ups within the minute stipulated. The overall pass rates for all those who took IPPT in the new format varied from 70% to 97%, depending on selected age categories. The total number of NSmen who received IPPT monetary awards for achieving the standards for Gold, Silver, and Pass with Incentive has also increased. The proportion of NSmen who received Gold and Silver awards increased by 4% to about 30%, and the proportion of NSmen who received Pass with Incentive awards increased by 9% to about 30%. The results of the new IPPT format are therefore very encouraging and indicate that the change has motivated NSmen to train and perform better. The SAF is confident that more NSmen will show improvement in their IPPT as they become familiar with the new format. The SAF will continue to support NSmen through a variety of IPPT Preparatory Training (IPT) programmes and the IPT-in-the-Park initiative to make fitness training more convenient, flexible and effective. Better fitness will ensure that NSmen are better prepared for their operational demands. Back to Contents IMPACT OF RECENT CPF CHANGES ON NUMBER AND AMOUNT OF CPF TOP-UPS

38 Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for Manpower what has been the impact of recent CPF changes on the number and amount of CPF top-ups that CPF members can make to (i) their own CPF accounts and (ii) their family members' CPF accounts.

Mr : Since January 2016, CPF members can transfer CPF savings above the Basic Retirement Sum (BRS) to their spouse’s Special or Retirement Account. Previously, they could only do so when their CPF savings were above their Full Retirement Sum (FRS). There were over 400 transfers of CPF savings to spouses in January 2016, about two and half times more than the same month last year. These transfers to spouses totalled $12 million. About 1 in 20 of these transfers were made by members with CPF savings above their BRS but below their FRS. We expect more CPF members to benefit from this change over time. Since January 2016, CPF members above the age of 55 can have their Retirement Account topped-up to the current Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS), instead of the FRS previously. In the 7

month of January 2016, there were 1,700 such top-ups, with a total top-up sum of $80 million. Back to Contents COMPLAINTS ABOUT AND BOOKINGS OF ERRANT CYCLISTS

40 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for Transport (a) what is the number of incidents of cyclists colliding into pedestrians on footpaths in 2015; (b) what are the penalties meted out; and (c) how many complaints have been received in 2015 on near misses between cyclists and pedestrians on footpaths.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: In 2015, Government agencies received about 800 complaints of errant cyclists and issued about 1,300 summonses. Of these summonses, about 300 were related to cycling on footpaths, but not all of these would have involved collision between cyclists and pedestrians. Agencies currently do not maintain statistics on the specific type of cycling incidents. Cyclists who injure pedestrians because of rash behaviour may be prosecuted in Court. Upon conviction, the cyclist may be punished with a fine of up to $5,000, or an imprisonment term of up to one year, or both. Back to Contents UPDATES ON LICENSING IRREGULARITIES AT SINGAPORE RIFLE ASSOCIATION AND SINGAPORE GUN CLUB

41 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether he can provide an update on the 'serious licensing irregularities' discovered at the Singapore Rifle Association and Singapore Gun Club respectively in light of the current security environment; and (b) whether any firearms have been found missing or illegally removed from the armouries of these clubs.

Mr K Shanmugam: The Singapore Rifle Association (SRA) and Singapore Gun Club (SGC) are shooting clubs which have historically been licensed by the Police to allow Singaporeans to pursue shooting as a sport. Both shooting clubs operate separate armouries co- located at the National Shooting Centre. On 4 February 2016, following an inspection of the SRA and SGC armouries, the Police took into custody several arms which the clubs were not able to produce valid licences for. All 8

arms with licence were however accounted for, and none were missing from the armouries. Police investigations into these arms without valid licences are still ongoing at this stage. In the interim, the Singapore Shooting Association, the national sports association for shooting, has been issued a licence to take charge of the armouries and arms within the National Shooting Centre. While Police investigations are still ongoing, access to the Centre has since been strictly confined to national shooters from the Singapore Shooting Association and other persons specifically granted permission by the Police. Alongside ongoing investigations, the Police are concurrently conducting a holistic review of the overall security of the National Shooting Centre and will work with Sport Singapore and the Singapore Shooting Association to ensure that the security measures and processes at the National Shooting Centre are robust and satisfy all licensing requirements. Back to Contents APPLICATION RATE FOR ADDITIONAL CHILDCARE SUBSIDY FOR NON- WORKING MOTHERS

44 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) in 2015, how many applications have been received for additional childcare subsidies from non-working mothers and how many applications have been approved; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider liberalising the qualifying criteria for additional childcare subsidies for non-working mothers, for instance those who have to care for multiple children and the elderly at home.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: All parents of Singaporean children, regardless of their working status, are eligible for basic childcare subsidies. Other forms of support, such as the Baby Bonus Cash Gift and Child Development Account matched savings, are also available to help parents defray the cost of raising children. As working mothers have a greater need for childcare, we provide them added assistance in the form of additional childcare subsidies. We recognise that some mothers who are not working full-time may also need childcare services for various reasons. These reasons may include long-term illness, disability, retrenchment, training or skills upgrading or other extenuating circumstances such as needing to care for other dependants in the family. For such cases, we exercise flexibility and consider their circumstances on a case-by-case basis for additional childcare subsidies. On this basis, 660 non-working mothers were provided additional childcare subsidies in 9

2015. This was out of 760 applicants. Back to Contents SUPPORT FOR RETRENCHED WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

45 Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what help is available to support retrenched workers and their families in an economic downturn; (b) how quickly can help be given; and (c) whether there is sufficient capacity to cope with an increase in social welfare recipients, especially in an economic downturn.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: In the event of an economic downturn, different Government assistance schemes and Government-operated or funded services are available to help retrenched individuals and families in financial need. MOM and MSF will work closely with relevant government and community partners to ensure that those in need receive adequate and timely employment, financial and social assistance. To help retrenched workers find jobs, the Ministry of Manpower will scale up employment assistance and training measures. These include place-and-train programmes to help Singaporeans re-skill to take on new jobs and the recently launched Career Support Programme to provide mature Singaporean PMEs with greater opportunities to access mid-level and above jobs. WDA’s Jobs Bank is another avenue for individuals to access job opportunities. For individuals who require career coaching, counselling or training advisory services, WDA’s Career Centres and NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) will organise employer networking sessions, job search related workshops and provide other relevant services. We will also help those unable to find a job immediately to upgrade their skills and become more employable. For Singaporeans who require financial assistance to tide over a difficult period, they can approach their nearest Social Service Office (SSO). MSF’s officers will consider their individual or family circumstances. During a downturn, we will expand capacity and exercise greater flexibility in extending help through schemes such as the ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance. Other forms of assistance are also available to help those who have difficulties with housing, healthcare and education costs during a downturn. This includes the temporary reduction or deferment of mortgage instalments for HDB flat owners who face short-term 10

difficulties servicing their HDB loan, Medifund assistance for those unable to afford subsidised healthcare bills, and financial assistance for education-related costs for students from affected families. Some retrenched workers may need support to manage family issues triggered by financial stress. They can also approach the SSO or other social help agencies such as the Family Service Centres (FSCs) or their grassroots leaders. The FSCs, which receive MSF funding, will support the retrenched workers and their families, through casework and counselling, to manage their stress and access appropriate assistance. Back to Contents SINGAPORE'S RESPONSE TO MALAYSIA'S IMPOSITION OF HIGHER VEHICLE PERMIT FEES AT THE CAUSEWAY AND SECOND LINK

46 Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Transport whether the Ministry will consider adjusting the Vehicle Entry Permit Fee, toll charges or other related fees given that the Malaysian Government has decided to impose RM20 on Singapore-registered vehicles entering Malaysia at the Causeway and Second Link.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: If Malaysia’s proposed Road Charge on non-Malaysia-registered vehicles entering Malaysia via Johor discriminates against Singapore-registered vehicles, we will match it in some form. Currently, we do not yet have the details of the final Malaysian proposal. Back to Contents ADEQUACY OF SPEED LIMIT SIGNS

47 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether the present number of speed limit signs on all our roads are sufficient; (b) whether the distance interval between each sign is adequate for motorists; and (c) whether there is a plan to increase the speed limit signs in view of the speed limit monitors/cameras to be installed.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The speed limit on all our roads is 50km/h, unless otherwise stated. This is in the Highway Code and also part of the driving test syllabus. Roads with speed limits other than 50km/h are clearly marked by signs. These are placed between 500m and 1km apart. Advance warning signs are also placed about 100-150m before speed cameras. 11

We regularly review the sufficiency of speed limit signs. But the best safeguard for motorists is not to speed at all times. Back to Contents IMPACT OF MAS'S IMPOSITION OF BORROWING LIMIT ON EASING OF INDIVIDUAL INDEBTEDNESS

50 Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Prime Minister whether there has been a gradual easing of individual indebtedness as a result of MAS's imposition of the aggregated borrowing limit of 12 months' income.

Mr Lawrence Wong (for the Prime Minister): MAS announced in April 2015 that the limit on the amount of unsecured credit that a borrower can take on across all financial institutions (FIs) would be phased-in over four years. The borrowing limit was set at an initial level of 24 times a borrower’s monthly income from 1 June 2015. This will be lowered progressively to 18 times from 1 June 2017 and 12 times from 1 June 2019. Since the introduction of the borrowing limit, the number of borrowers with unsecured debt exceeding 24 times of monthly income has approximately halved, from around 32,000 in February 2015 to around 17,000 in November 2015. This reduced number represents around 1% of all unsecured credit borrowers. The number of borrowers whose unsecured debt exceeds 12 times their monthly income has also dropped by about 14%, from around 84,000 borrowers in February 2015 to around 72,000 borrowers in November 2015. This reduced number makes up about 4% of all unsecured credit borrowers. The vast majority of borrowers use credit prudently and are not affected by the aggregate borrowing limit. We encourage indebted borrowers to reduce their outstanding unsecured debts over time. They can seek help from their FIs or Credit Counselling Singapore, which can help work out repayment plans and offer various assistance schemes. Back to Contents PROJECTED TOURIST ARRIVALS AND HOTEL ROOMS WITH COMPLETION OF TERMINAL 4

53 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) what is the 12

projected number of tourist arrivals upon the opening of Changi Airport Terminal 4 and what is the number of hotel rooms that will be opened to meet the projected number of arrivals.

Mr S Iswaran: Changi Airport Terminal 4 is expected to open in 2017. An additional 5,700 hotel rooms will be completed by 2017, and a further 2,800 will be built from 2018 to 2020. This is sufficient to support the projected visitor arrivals growth in the medium term. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is constantly monitoring demand trends, and will continue to work with industry partners and other relevant agencies to ensure that there is sufficient hospitality infrastructure to cater to the projected growth in visitor arrivals. Apart from hospitality infrastructure, STB will also continue to work closely with industry to identify and support innovative tourism hardware and software development, while improving our capabilities. This is in line with STB’s approach to Quality Tourism to achieve sustainable tourism growth in the longer term. Back to Contents EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS OF TERTIARY STUDENTS WHO WORK PART- TIME

54 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) what steps are in place to educate students from Institutes of Technical Education, polytechnics and universities, who work as part-timers during their school holidays or after school hours, on their employment rights so that they are not disadvantaged by their employers.

Mr : Various measures are taken to educate students on their basic employment rights, especially for those involved in part-time jobs. At the national level, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board have stepped up public education and outreach efforts on the Employment Act and CPF Act via the WorkRight initiative since 2012. Recent efforts include social media videos on Facebook and mobile clinics across 16 locations in the heartlands in January 2016. Both workers and students can also find out and verify their employment rights at the MOM website. At the institutions level, the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) have supplemented national efforts with their own initiatives. Some initiatives include ensuring that staff at the Career Guidance Offices are educated on the Employment Act and can provide first-line advice 13 to students, and making resources available to students through their online career resource portals. At the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), basic employment rights under the Employment Act are highlighted to ITE students as part of their 40-hour Education and Career Guidance (ECG) curriculum introduced in January 2015. This covers details such as the maximum number of working hours in a week, and the timeframe within which employers must pay their salaries. The IHLs also use guidebooks provided by WorkRight to educate their graduating students about their employment rights. I look forward to the IHLs working even closer with the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC)’s Professionals, Managers and Executives Unit, and its U-Care Centre, to better educate our students on their employment rights, be it through on-campus talks or roadshows. Back to Contents OBESITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AMONG STUDENTS AND YOUTHS

56 Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the current level of physical activity of the population according to age groups; (b) whether the proportion of overweight children in our schools is currently on the decline or rise; and (c) whether there are studies or Ministry-led initiatives to monitor the dietary habits, physical activity and healthy weight range of our children and youth.

Mr : The Health Promotion Board conducts a triennial survey of lifestyle risk factors including dietary habits and physical activity of students in secondary schools, Institutes of Technical Education (ITE), Polytechnics, Junior Colleges/Centralised Institute (JC/CI). The Ministry of Education (MOE) also monitors students’ weight status (measured as BMI-for-age) at the Primary, Secondary and JC/CI levels. During the survey period 2012-2014, the median duration spent on physical activity which includes leisure, school-related physical activities, and walking or cycling while commuting between places was reported at 250 minutes per week for polytechnic students, 339 minutes per week for Secondary and JC/CI students, and 360 minutes per week for ITE students. In another survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2013, the median duration spent on physical activity (including leisure, work-related and commuting) was reported to be 450 14 minutes per week among adults aged 18 to 69 years. It was the highest among the young adults aged 18 to 29 years at 510 minutes per week but at its lowest among adults aged between 30 to 49 years at 420 minutes per week, before rising again in the 50 to 59 age group. The proportion of overweight and severely overweight children in our mainstream schools has increased from 11% in 2011 to 12% in 2015. Various initiatives have been introduced in schools to encourage good dietary habits and regular physical activity to promote health and help in weight management. For example, there are now more healthier options in school canteens. School tuckshop operators are encouraged to use healthier ingredients and healthier food preparation methods. Drinking water is strongly encouraged through extensive presence of water coolers while all beverages sold in schools have to have reduced sugar levels. Through the increase in Physical Education (PE) periods, students’ base participation in sports and physical activities has also increased to at least two hours per week. Other opportunities for physical activities participation include Physical Sports Co-curricular Activities and sports enrichments such as Sports Education Programme, inter-class games and sports carnivals. In addition, parents play a very important role in role-modelling active living and healthy eating for their children. Children develop these habits more effectively when these are done as a family, including the involvement of other care-givers. We will continue to work with the other agencies to monitor the trends of overweight and obesity; levels of physical activity; and other risk factors; in the children, youth and adult populations. Achieving a healthy lifestyle that include active living and healthy eating, need to start from young. In this regard, we are working with partners on a holistic approach to address the health challenges faced by our children and youth, including overweight. We will develop more programmes and initiatives to help them cultivate healthy habits. We will make the necessary announcements in due course. Back to Contents EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING DISEASE SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMMES

57 Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked the Minister for Health if he can provide an update on our disease surveillance programmes and the challenges and constraints involved in implementing them in our clinics and hospitals.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: The Ministry of Health has a robust surveillance system to monitor 15

communicable diseases and protect public health. Aside from notifications of infectious disease cases by clinicians and laboratories, MOH also works with hospitals, polyclinics and other government agencies to analyse disease syndromes and trending of different strains of infectious agents. With globalization, there is an increased risk of infectious diseases spreading across borders. We have seen this with Ebola, and more recently with Zika. In addition, infectious diseases can spread from animals to humans, as shown by diseases such as Avian Flu and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. We need to remain vigilant and regularly review our systems and processes to keep an eye on these threats. One important aspect of an effective surveillance system is for our healthcare workers to look out for suspicious cases and report them promptly. In doing so, we should be careful not to increase the administrative burden on our healthcare workers, so that they can continue to focus on their core work and patient care. We need to make good use of Information Technology and data analytics to streamline our reporting processes and continually improve the national surveillance and response system. MOH is also enhancing our national capacity and capabilities in infectious diseases. We will work closely with the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology on prevention, surveillance and response. Building on this collaboration, we will set up the National Centre for Infectious Diseases by 2018 to serve as the national facility for outbreak prevention and containment. Through these efforts, we aim to bring together the collective efforts of all stakeholders, so that we can work together to protect Singapore from existing and emerging threats of infectious diseases. Back to Contents RECRUITMENT EFFORTS OF SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

58 Mr Ang Hin Kee asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what are the plans to attract more Singaporeans to join the Singapore Police Force (SPF); (b) what is the status of the Home Team's re-employment efforts; and (c) whether the SPF plans to assign more non-policing activities to civilian officers and allow uniformed officers to take on more operational roles.

Mr K Shanmugam: Over the last 10 years, the number of Police Officers has increased 16

by about 18%, from 8,000 to 9,400. While it is more challenging to recruit officers with fewer Singaporean new entrants joining the workforce each year, SPF has kept the Police career attractive by offering meaningful and exciting jobs, competitive terms and conditions, as well as good career development and advancement prospects. SPF is currently working on providing more seamless advancement opportunities for its officers by placing degree and non-degree holders on a single scheme of service. It is also introducing specialist career tracks to develop officers with deep expertise in specialist domains. Police jobs especially at the frontline will be redesigned to make greater use of data, technology and automation, with streamlined work processes. In October 2013, the retirement age of Police Officers was extended from age 50 to 55. This enables our older Police Officers to continue their contributions to the Home Team. After age 55, Police Officers may be offered re-employment depending on organisational needs. This is subject to performance, conduct and fitness criteria. About 60% of retired Police Officers were re-employed by SPF in the past five years, to both Police and civilian jobs. To allow our Police Officers to perform their core policing functions, more civilian officers have been recruited to take on civilian specialist roles. The Home Team Specialist Scheme was introduced in 2010 for civilian officers to take on specialised roles in areas such as engineering, technology, crime scene investigations and forensics. There are currently 290 civilian specialist officers in the Police Force. They play an important role in complementing Police Officers to maintain law and order and to fight crime. Back to Contents UTILISATION RATES OF SCDF'S FIRST-RESPONDER APPS FOR CIVILIANS

59 Mr Ang Hin Kee asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what has been the utilisation rate and number of users following SCDF's launch of the Save-a-Life initiative and myResponder mobile app to enhance emergency response; and (b) whether there are plans to expand the reach to more public and private spaces and to more members of the public who are trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and with using automated external defibrillators.

Mr K Shanmugam: The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) launched the Save-A- Life Initiative in August 2015, to increase the survival rate of cardiac arrest victims by building a network of trained community first responders to respond to cardiac arrest cases in their 17 immediate vicinity. As part of the Save-a-life initiative, the SCDF will install AEDs at the lift lobbies of HDB blocks, with one AED for every two to three blocks. The first phase was implemented from August last year where 160 AEDs were installed in six constituencies: Bedok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris West, Radin Mas, and Tampines West. Another 227 AEDs will be installed this year at these constituencies. We will progressively extend this to all HDB estates by 2018. The AED installation will be accompanied by training for residents to be community responders. SCDF has worked with the Ministry of Health and the People’s Association to provide CPR and AED training to community responders through the “Dispatcher Assisted first Responder” (DARE) programme. To date, about 300 residents have been trained in each of the six pilot constituencies. Residents and members of the public who are trained in CPR and AED skills are then encouraged to download the SCDF myResponder Mobile app and register themselves as Community First Responders. In the event of a cardiac arrest case, SCDF will notify, through the app, Community First Responders in the vicinity to respond. Since its launch in April 2015, the app has been downloaded about 9,000 times. The Community First Responders have been alerted to more than 3,800 cardiac arrest cases. Apart from our neighbourhoods, SCDF is working with MOH and the Singapore Heart Foundation to encourage more public and private establishments to install AEDs and train their staff. All schools, community centres, sports stadiums, SAF camps and Home Team facilities have already installed AEDs. A recent initiative that SCDF implemented last November was with SMRT and Temasek Cares to install AEDs in 100 SMRT taxis. In the event of a cardiac arrest case, the trained taxi driver can quickly go to the scene to help. SCDF will continue to expand the reach of its ‘Save-A-Life’ initiative to enhance community self-help and to improve the survival rate of cardiac arrest cases. Back to Contents UPDATE ON HDB'S GOODWILL REPAIR ASSISTANCE SCHEME

60 Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for National Development (a) from 2013 to 2015, what is the number of HDB home owners who have been beneficaries of 18 the "Goodwill Repair Assistance" (GRA) scheme; and (b) whether HDB has received feedback that the shared percentage of 25% of the repair cost required of both the upper-floor and lower- floor units is unfair and unjustifiable for the homeowner living at the lower unit.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Under the HDB lease, the repair of ceiling leaks is the joint responsibility between the upper- and lower-floor flat owners. From time to time, HDB has received feedback from lower-floor flat owners about having to co-pay the repair costs of ceiling leaks. To lessen the financial burden on flat owners faced with a leaking ceiling situation, HDB introduced the Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) scheme. Under this scheme, HDB will pay 50% of the ceiling leak repair cost. The remaining 50% is then shared equally between the upper- and lower-floor flat owners. The GRA scheme not only reduces the financial burden on the lower-floor lessee but also helps expedite such repairs by assisting the upper-floor lessee as well. From 2013 to 2015, HDB assisted with about 22,900 ceiling leak repairs under the GRA scheme. Notwithstanding this, lower-floor lessees who prefer not to use the GRA scheme and wish to approach their upper-floor neighbours to make their own arrangements are free to do so. Back to Contents PAPER ROAD TAX DISCS

64 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Transport (a) what is the purpose for the road tax disc to be displayed on motor vehicles; and (b) whether the LTA will consider doing away with the paper road tax disc.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The paper road tax disc, which has to be displayed on the windscreen, shows that the vehicle has been licensed by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), has adequate insurance coverage and complies with all other regulatory requirements. In recent times, Singapore Government agencies do not rely on the discs for checks on vehicles anymore, as they do these checks electronically. We have therefore been studying doing away with the discs. However, for Singapore-registered vehicles entering Malaysia, the Malaysian authorities still rely on the discs as proof that the vehicle complies with LTA’s regulatory requirements. 19

LTA is reviewing how we can address the Malaysian authorities’ concerns. Back to Contents SCHOOLS' ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE DSA STUDENTS FULFIL ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

68 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Acting Minister for Education (Schools) given the recent experience of students at Raffles Institution who took the GCE "O" Level examinations, (a) how do schools help students who gain entry under the Direct Schools Admission (Secondary) Exercise (DSA-Sec) to juggle the schools' academic demands and their sporting commitments; and (b) what is the academic track record of students who have joined a secondary school under the DSA-Sec over the past three years.

Mr : The Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme was introduced to promote holistic education by reducing the emphasis on examination results and recognising a more diverse range of non-academic talents, achievements and personal qualities. Schools participating in DSA are committed to develop students to their fullest potential in both their studies and areas of talent, and have put in place a range of programmes and support structures to help DSA students balance academic demands and CCA commitments. Schools help students who face academic challenges, regardless of whether they entered via DSA or not in two broad ways. Firstly, they make efforts to know these students, their learning styles, their strengths and difficulties and what motivates them. Many schools ensure that their DSA students are assigned teacher mentors and class buddies. There are regular discussion sessions with the DSA students and dialogues with parents to better understand the students’ needs. With this knowledge, schools can then provide targeted academic support, structured guidance and adjust their curriculum and programmes to better cater to them. Secondly, schools monitor these students closely. Schools track the academic performance of DSA students and have regular platforms to discuss whether and what kind of interventions are necessary. Schools also monitor the social-emotional well-being of these students and work in partnership with their parents to ensure that the students are doing well. Overall, the "O" Level performance of students admitted via DSA-Sec is comparable to their non-DSA peers with similar PSLE results. Of the three batches of DSA students who have sat for "O" Levels from 2013 to 2015, about 80% of them were eligible for Junior Colleges. 20

Overall, DSA has broadened the definition of merit and promoted holistic education by reducing the emphasis on national examination results. As with all of our policies, we will continue to regularly review and improve the DSA scheme. Back to Contents COMPLIANCE RATE FOR NATIONAL CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT IMMUNISATION SCHEDULE

69 Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked the Minister for Health with regard to the National Childhood and Adolescent Immunisation Schedule (a) what is the compliance rate for Singaporeans and foreign students, including permanent residents; (b) what measures are taken when parents do not comply; and (c) whether there have been any reported adverse effects caused by the immunisations in the last three years.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Vaccinations under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS) are recommended as the standard of care to protect children against certain infectious diseases. Vaccinations against measles and diphtheria are compulsory in Singapore. The take up rates for measles and diphtheria vaccinations are high among Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, with coverage in children aged two years maintained at around 95% or higher in the last five years. The high vaccination coverage confers herd immunity and reduces the risk of disease outbreaks. As measles and diphtheria vaccinations are bundled together in the form of combination vaccines with vaccinations on the NCIS for other diseases such as mumps, rubella, whooping cough, polio, and tetanus, herd immunity is achieved for these diseases as well. MOH has taken an educational approach to encourage parents to comply with vaccinating their children. The National Immunisation Registry under the Health Promotion Board (HPB) tracks pre-school children, and sends letters to remind parents to bring their children for vaccination if they have not done so. HPB’s School Health Service actively follows up on unvaccinated children in primary schools. This has worked well and resulted in high levels of vaccination coverage among our children. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has in place a robust surveillance system to closely monitor the safety of vaccines used here. In the last three years, while there were reports of adverse reactions suspected to be associated with vaccines, majority of the reports relate to known adverse reactions, such as injection-site swelling or pain, fever and febrile fits. 21

We will continue to work with HPB to monitor the take up rate of vaccines under the NCIS and, at the same time, enhance educational efforts to ensure that high vaccination coverage is maintained to protect our population. Back to Contents MONITORING LIFT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

71 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for National Development (a) what recourse do residents have apart from calling up the Essential Maintenance Services Unit to repair lifts that constantly break down; and (b) whether maintenance frequencies can be increased for lifts that constantly break down and their performance stability monitored so as to re-establish confidence for users of these lifts.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Town Councils have the statutory responsibility to carry out maintenance of lifts in HDB estates. Therefore, besides contacting the Essential Maintenance Services Unit appointed by their Town Council, residents may also call their Town Council directly if they encounter lift breakdowns. Under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (Lift and Building Maintenance) Regulations, all lifts must be maintained at least once a month. However, Town Councils can work with their appointed lift servicing contractors to review whether a higher maintenance frequency is needed for specific lifts. This can be done with the help of the Tele- Monitoring System (TMS) installed in all HDB blocks, which provides data on lift performance including lift breakdown rates. Back to Contents REVIEW OF ARTS FUND GUIDELINES

73 Mr David Ong asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what has been the take-up rate for the Arts Fund over the last five years; and (b) whether NAC will consider reviewing its funding guidelines, in particular the measurable indicators.

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Administered by the National Arts Council (NAC), the Arts Fund was set up by the Tote Board to bring the arts to the wider community. Following a review in 2011, the Arts Fund sharpened its funding guidelines to encourage 22

arts groups to reach out to new audiences with quality performances that resonate with Singaporeans. Artistic excellence has remained an important criterion. This is in line with the twin goals of the Arts and Culture Strategic Review to support arts excellence as well as make the arts an integral part of the lives of our people. There was an increase in funding provided by Tote Board from $750,000 to $1.5 million per year from FY2012 onwards. The take-up rate from FY2011 to FY2015, has been healthy at about 100% in FY2011, 80% in FY2012, 95% in FY2013, 100% in FY2014 and 75% for FY2015 thus far. After the implementation of these funding guidelines, we have seen a growth in the audiences reached under the Arts Fund, from around 220,000 in FY2012 to a projected 340,000 by end of FY2015. This indicator, together with measures of audience satisfaction continue to be relevant indicators given the objectives of the Arts Fund. Back to Contents SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR PILOTS

74 Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Transport whether the demand for pilots in Singapore meets the supply of trainees from local pilot academies and what is done to help the trained pilots secure job placements.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: There are four approved pilot training academies in Singapore. Over the last two years, about 240 pilots graduated from these academies. About 80% of them were from Singapore carriers’ cadet pilot programmes. The remaining 20% were self-sponsored. Singapore carriers prefer to recruit new pilots through their own cadet pilot programmes, as they can then carefully screen and assess the candidates even before they commence their training. This approach also allows the airlines to better match their recruitment needs against their fleet growth plans. MOT and CAAS do not interfere in the recruitment decisions of Singapore carriers, as it is their responsibility to determine the suitability of each candidate for their company. Back to Contents

Office of the Clerk of Parliament Singapore, 29 February 2016