Volume 94 Monday No 53 6 November 2017

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS

Written Answers to Questions

Page

1. Enabling Cashcard Top-up on PayNow System (Mr Ong Teng Koon) 1 2. Rectification and Remediation against Supplier of Steel Products for MRT Trains (Mr Sitoh Yih Pin) 2 3. Synchronisation of Warning Messages in KPE Tunnel (Ms ) 2 4. Manpower for Infrastructure Projects (Ms Joan Pereira) 3 5. Records of Maritime Casualties in Straits of Singapore from 2007 to 2016 (Mr Lip Fong) 4 6. Effectiveness of Silver Zones Implementation (Mr ) 5 7. Review of MOT and LTA Senior Staff Remuneration and Bonuses (Mr ) 5 8. Breakdown of Worker Profiles in the Finance Industry from 2012 to 2017 (Miss Wei Ling) 6 9. Number of Work Permit Holders Granted Transfer of Employer (Mr Kok Kwang) 7 10. Percentage of Re-employed Workers on One-year, Multi-year and Renewed Employment Contracts (Mr Desmond Choo) 7 11. Digital TV Adoption by Low Income Households under Digital TV Assistance Scheme (Mr Yik Chye) 8 12. Restrictions on Retailers and Merchants from Selling Dangerous Objects to Minors (Mr Sitoh Yih Pin) 9 13. Reasons for Pedestrian Deaths Caused by Jaywalking from 2011 to 2016 (Er Dr ) 10 14, 15. Ensuring Pedestrian Safety at Pedestrian Crossings (Mr Ong Teng Koon) 11 16. Statistics on Singapore Citizenship Granted to Foreigners from 2008 to 2017 (Mr ) 12 17. Disposable Income Limit to Qualify for Legal Aid (Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling) 12 18. Plans for SLA Land at Wan Tho Avenue Leased to St John's Home for Elderly Persons (Mr Sitoh Yih Pin) 13 19. Statistics of Persons Sued by Public Hospitals for Arrears of Hospital Bills (Ms ) 14 20. Participating Companies and Employees in National Steps Challenge (Miss ) 14 21. State of Mental Health in Singapore (Assoc Prof Pei Siong) 15 22. Update on Industry Transformation Maps and Global Innovation Alliance (Ms ) 16 23. Tax Regimes Governing Drivers of Taxis and Private-hire Cars (Mr Sitoh Yih Pin) 18 24. Measures to Level Playing Field for GST-registered Local Suppliers vs Non-GST Registered Overseas Suppliers (Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng) 18 25. Stricter Safety Regulations for High-risk Sports (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 19 26. Measures to Mitigate Encounters with Wild Boars (Ms Sun Xueling) 20 27. Price Gap between Private Housing and HDB Resale and BTO Flats (Mr ) 21 28. Life Cycle Assessment of Plastic Bags and Takeaway Containers (Mr Pritam Singh) 22 29. Results of PUB's Checks on Water Pipes in Bukit Batok SMC (Mr ) 22 30. Sensor Systems to Monitor Vehicle Emissions and Industrial Odours (Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong) 24 31. Enhanced Anti-bullying Hotlines for Students (Mr Leon Perera) 24 32. Regular Attendance of Children in Primary School (Mr Murali Pillai) 25 33. Arrested Juveniles Admitted into Juvenile Homes (Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang) 26

ENABLING CASHCARD TOP-UP ON PAYNOW SYSTEM

1 Mr Ong Teng Koon asked the Prime Minister whether the Ministry will consider linking cashcards with the PayNow payment system in order to allow for seamless topping up of cashcards from mobile apps instead of via a physical top-up machine as cashcards are the only cards accepted across all payment platforms for motorists' payments including ERP and car parks.

Mr (for the Prime Minister): Mr Ong's question refers to the CashCard issued by NETS, which can be used by motorists for ERP and car park payments. However, there are also other payment options. The existing NETS CashCard is a physical stored value facility that has been in use since 1995. The stored value in the CashCard can be topped up at NETS top-up machines, any local bank ATM, and at terminals at some convenience store chains1. This existing CashCard cannot be topped up through mobile apps or internet banking, such as through PayNow, as it requires a physical contact point for topping up. Besides the NETS CashCard, however, there are other options for motorists and those using public transit – namely the ez-link card and NETS FlashPay card. These cards are based on the Contactless e-Purse Application Standard (CEPAS). There are a few convenient ways to top up CEPAS cards, such as through automatic top-ups via Interbank Giro, credit and debit cards or via smartphones2, which removes the hassle of performing manual top-ups. Motorists can also sign up for electronic payment of ERP fees via EZ-Pay or NETS CashCard. These latter payment methods allow motorists to pay for ERP charges directly with their credit or debit cards. As for car parks, Mr Ong is right to say that the CashCard is the only payment card that can be accepted in all car parks. Most car parks are already on the Electronic Payment System (EPS) and accept both the CashCard and CEPAS cards. However, some of the older car parks cannot accept CEPAS cards – these are a declining minority, as car park operators upgrade their systems.

1 Such as 7-Eleven, Cheers, FairPrice Xpress. 2 Users can top up ez-link cards by tapping the cards onto their Android smartphones using the near field communication functionality. The top-up amount will be charged to the users’ credit cards.

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Upcoming developments such as the Land Transport Authority's next generation ERP 2.0 system will be based on newer and more efficient technology, including cardless payments, to further improve motorists' experience. Back to Contents RECTIFICATION AND REMEDIATION AGAINST SUPPLIER OF STEEL PRODUCTS FOR MRT TRAINS

2 Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether the recent admission by Kobe Steel Ltd on data falsification of the quality of its steel products involved products used in the construction of our MRT trains; and (b) if so, whether there are any plans to seek rectification and remedies against the parties concerned.

Mr : The Land Transport Authority has confirmed with all our MRT and LRT train manufacturers that no non-conforming products from Kobe Steel have been used in our trains. This includes the Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI)-CSR Sifang consortium that is replacing the car-body bolster for 26 North-South and East-West Lines trains, as well as manufacturing the new fleet of trains for the Thomson-East Coast Line. LTA officers based in Qingdao work closely with KHI-CSR Sifang to ensure that our trains are manufactured according to LTA’s specifications. The safety of commuters is our utmost concern. LTA will continue to monitor any new developments from the investigations into the quality of products manufactured by Kobe Steel. Back to Contents SYNCHRONISATION OF WARNING MESSAGES IN KPE TUNNEL

3 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Transport (a) why were there different warning messages across the different platforms during the KPE tunnel fire that occurred on 29 August 2017; (b) what measures have been taken to synchronise them; and (c) how can fire fighters reach and access such fires in the tunnel in the event of a traffic jam.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: During the August 29 tunnel fire incident, there were different warning messages for motorists at different locations, as intended. Those inside the tunnel were advised via the tunnel messaging and broadcast system to exit the tunnel immediately if they 3 could, or turn off their vehicle engines before evacuating via the nearest emergency exit if they could not. Motorists outside the tunnel were advised not to enter via electronic signboards, radio broadcast, and online and mobile platforms. However, for a short period after the fire was put out, the messages were not synchronised. Messages outside the tunnel had ceased to advise motorists not to enter, but the LTA tunnel broadcast system continued to ask motorists to evacuate the tunnel. This caused some initial confusion. LTA has since reviewed the process and fixed the problem. As there could be traffic congestion in the tunnel, the Singapore Civil Defence Force's fire fighters will respond to the site of the fire from both directions. Officers coming from the opposite direction at the incident location will access the site via cross-passage doors within the tunnel. Fire bikes will also be despatched, and fire fighting vehicles may travel on the road shoulder to reach the site. Back to Contents MANPOWER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

4 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether there are enough technicians and engineers to handle our infrastructure projects and their maintenance; and (b) what measures are in place to meet manpower shortfalls in this sector.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: As Singapore embarks on major infrastructural projects in the coming decades, the Government will continue to work closely with tripartite partners to build a strong pipeline of engineers and technicians to meet the sector's manpower needs. We expect the demand for technicians and engineers to grow steadily in the coming years. The railway sector, for example, employs more than 2,000 engineers and 4,000 technicians today and will need to employ another 1,500 by 2020. Another area of demand is for lift technicians as Singapore's built environment continues to transform. There are currently about 2,100 lift technicians and by 2020 we expect to employ another 1,000 more. The tripartite partners have worked together to formulate a package of measures to attract and retain talent: i) Industry-wide branding and promotion of engineering and technical jobs. For example, in 2015, LTA established a $12.5 million Public Transport Manpower Development Fund, to support initiatives such as career fairs, internships and study awards to uplift the image of 4 engineering and technical careers and attract new entrants to the industry. ii) Building a dedicated pipeline of engineering and technical expertise. We have also been ramping up the offering of training programmes at both the Pre-Employment Training (PET) and Continuing Education and Training (CET) levels, as well as structured on-the-job training. For example, BCA is partnering lift companies to offer scholarships / sponsorships to attract Singaporeans at the degree, diploma and ITE level to take up lift maintenance related courses and careers. For the railway sector, our ITE, Polytechnics, and Universities launched seven new railway engineering courses, ranging from NITEC to Masters. The first few batches of graduates will be ready to join the industry in the next one to two years. We are also working with programme partners to launch more rail-related Continuing Education and Training programmes, such as NTU's new Specialist Certificate in Civil Infrastructure Engineering to help environmental engineers gain civil engineering knowledge. iii) Attracting mid-career switchers. Agencies such as BCA and LTA have also been working with WSG and e2i to attract mid-career switchers through Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs) by equipping workers from other sectors with the relevant competencies to embark on a career in the infrastructure sector. Back to Contents RECORDS OF MARITIME CASUALTIES IN STRAITS OF SINGAPORE FROM 2007 TO 2016

5 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport (a) other than cases involving loss of lives, pollution or safety of navigation, what are the categories of maritime casualties in the Straits of Singapore and the port of Singapore which MPA keeps records of; and (b) what is the number of such cases in each of the past 10 years.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Other than major marine incidents involving loss of lives, pollution or safety of navigation, MPA also tracks reported incidents of lesser severity within our port limits and the Straits of Singapore (Singapore Territorial Waters). Between 2007 and 2017, there has been an average of nine collision, nine sinking, 30 grounding and 71 contact incidents reported in these waters per year. Back to Contents

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EFFECTIVENESS OF SILVER ZONES IMPLEMENTATION

6 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Transport (a) how effective has the Silver Zones been in preventing accidents since their implementation; (b) what are the enhancements put in place to balance the needs of pedestrians, vehicles and emergency vehicles; and (c) how can Silver Zones be adapted to factor in the increased usage of personal mobility devices and bicycles which affect the elderly in using the pedestrian walkways.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Silver Zones improve road safety for seniors by slowing down traffic and alerting motorists to keep a look-out for pedestrians. Features include a reduced speed limit of 40km/h, speed bumps, ramps and barrier-free crossings, enhanced street lighting and longer green man timing. Silver Zones also use centre dividers to narrow lanes and reduce traffic speeds. These dividers are designed to be mountable to allow emergency vehicles to overtake. In the 11 locations where Silver Zones have been implemented, only three accidents involving seniors have occurred, compared to more than 50 such accidents in the five-year period preceding Silver Zones. LTA will widen footpaths where practicable at locations with large numbers of pedestrians and cyclists. Of the 11 completed Silver Zones, seven already have widened footpaths, or dedicated cycling paths to complement existing footpaths, and two more will have dedicated cycling paths by 2020. We will also implement speed regulating strips and prominent signs to remind cyclists and personal mobility device users to slow down ahead of crowded areas such as bus stops. Back to Contents REVIEW OF MOT AND LTA SENIOR STAFF REMUNERATION AND BONUSES

7 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Transport in light of staff bonuses of the MRT operator's maintenance team being affected by the recent episode of MRT tunnel flooding, whether this episode will also affect the compensation paid to senior staff in the Ministry and LTA who have been tasked with oversight of the MRT operator and, if so, how.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The responsibility for maintaining rail lines, including the flood 6 prevention systems, lies with the operators. As the regulator, LTA sets the Operating and Maintenance Performance Standards, and carries out regular audits of the operators' maintenance regime and on-site inspections to ensure that these standards are complied with. LTA takes a risk-based approach and prioritises resources in areas which are assessed to be most complex, have the highest risk of failure and which could potentially have the biggest impact on the rail network. The anti-flooding systems are considered less of a high risk area compared to the other core railway systems as the constructs are relatively simple, easy to maintain and have ample provisions. Nonetheless, on 29 September 2017, in accordance with its regulatory role, LTA did expressly highlight to SMRT the importance of regular and diligent maintenance of tunnel pump systems and to surface a list of pumps requiring replacement to LTA. Unfortunately, the remedial actions instructed by LTA were not taken in time. The flooding incident occurred before the replacement programme could be completed. There is no evidence of shortcomings or lapses in regulatory oversight by LTA or MOT staff. Back to Contents BREAKDOWN OF WORKER PROFILES IN THE FINANCE INDUSTRY FROM 2012 TO 2017

8 Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling asked the Minister for Manpower (a) from 2012 to 2017, what is the proportion of contract versus permanent workers in the finance industry; (b) what is the breakdown of locals and foreigners in this sector over the same period; and (c) what percentage of experienced workers in finance and below 40 years of age continue to remain within the industry.

Mr : Consistently between 2012 and 2016, over 90% of the local workforce in the financial and insurance services sector were permanent workers. In addition, locals accounted for more than 80% of the workforce in this sector. Among all local workers aged below 40 who were in the financial and insurance services sector in 2012, close to 70% were still working in the same sector in 2016. Back to Contents

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NUMBER OF WORK PERMIT HOLDERS GRANTED TRANSFER OF EMPLOYER

9 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower since the transfer policy was implemented for construction and process workers, (a) how many work permit holders have been granted a transfer of employer with the employer's agreement and without the employer's agreement respectively; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider extending the scheme to work permit holders in other sectors.

Mr Lim Swee Say: Since 2005, we allow work permit holders (WPHs) in the construction sector to change employers if their current employers agree. Since 2015, we also allow all construction sector WPHs to change employers at the end of their work permit term, if they are not able to come to a mutual agreement on the renewal of their work permits. Since June this year, we also allow WPHs in the process sector the same flexibilities. In addition, WPHs who have valid claims against their employers have been allowed to find another employer. The transfer policy improves productivity as employers benefit from hiring WPHs with work experience in Singapore. Employers also save on repatriation, search and hiring costs, as the WPHs do not have to leave Singapore. As of October 2017, approximately 128,000 WPHs changed employers before the end of their work permit terms with their employers' consent. Another 400 WPHs changed employers after completing their work permit terms. MOM is reviewing whether the transfer policy can be extended progressively to other sectors at an appropriate time, taking into account the impact on both businesses and workers. Back to Contents PERCENTAGE OF RE-EMPLOYED WORKERS ON ONE-YEAR, MULTI- YEAR AND RENEWED EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS

10 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the current percentage of re-employed workers given one-year contracts and multi-year contracts respectively; and (b) what is the percentage of re-employed workers whose contracts are renewed after the end of the first and second contracts.

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Mr Lim Swee Say: Since re-employment was introduced in 2012, over 98% of private- sector local employees who wished to continue working at age 62 were offered re-employment. Among those offered re-employment at age 62 in 2016, two in three employees were able to continue on their existing contracts with no change in employment terms and conditions. For those offered re-employment on new contracts, one in three was offered contracts for a period of more than a year. We do not track the renewal of re-employment contracts of individual employees at the end of the first and second year of their re-employment. However, almost all private-sector local employees who were in employment when they turned 63 and 64 and wished to continue working, were offered re-employment. This suggests that older employees who want to continue working are given opportunities to continue to do so by their employers. Back to Contents DIGITAL TV ADOPTION BY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS UNDER DIGITAL TV ASSISTANCE SCHEME

11 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) whether the 160,000 low-income households identified for the Digital TV Assistance Scheme are equipped and ready for digital TV broadcasting; and (b) whether the Ministry plans to take further actions to facilitate digital TV adoption in Singapore before analogue broadcasting is phased out.

Assoc Prof Dr : It is important that Singaporeans can continue to access Mediacorp's free-to-air channels (FTA) after analogue broadcasting is phased out, because these channels are freely accessible to all Singapore households and are a key source of news, information and entertainment in all four languages. Our FTA channels also carry Public Service Broadcast (PSB) programmes, which promote important societal values, celebrate our culture and heritage, and promote the Singapore identity. Today, about three in four Singapore households are already receiving Mediacorp's DTV channels either over the air, or through their Pay TV subscription. To help low income households migrate to DTV before analogue broadcasting is phased out, the then-Media Development Authority (now the Info-communications Media Development Authority, or IMDA) introduced the Digital TV Assistance Scheme (DTVAS) in September 9

2014. The DTVAS provides low income households with a free digital set-top box and indoor antenna, as well as free installation, to allow them to use their existing television sets to receive DTV. Since the launch of the DTVAS, IMDA has sent out notification letters to over 139,000 eligible households. As of 17 October 2017, about 64,000 DTVAS packages have been deployed, benefiting roughly one in two eligible households. IMDA is intensifying its outreach efforts to reach out to the remaining households who have not responded to the notification letters. Beyond intensive door-knock exercises, IMDA is also working with the grassroots, voluntary welfare organisations and senior activity centres to increase DTVAS awareness. Monthly DTV roadshows in the heartlands and booths in community events organised by the Citizens' Consultative Committees and Residents' Committees are also being organised. In addition, messages on analogue TV switch-off and DTV have been included in dialect programmes on Mediacorp channels, such as "Jiak Ba Buay" on Channel 8, to raise awareness amongst senior citizens. We recognise that ramping up efforts to increase awareness of DTV is necessary but not sufficient. Hence, we will be doing more. IMDA will shift the analogue TV switch-off date from end-2017 to end-2018. The extension will provide the public an additional year to switch over to DTV. The end-2018 date will also be more aligned to our neighbours' (that is, Malaysia and Indonesia) plans for analogue TV switch-off. This is relevant because the full benefits of freeing up spectrum from analogue TV switch-off can be reaped only when the region moves on this at the same time. At the same time, IMDA is also studying enhancements to the DTVAS with a view to assisting more HDB Singaporean households adopt DTV. IMDA will announce the enhancements to the DTVAS early next year. We remain committed to improving Singapore's digital readiness and enabling households to continue receiving PSB programmes upon analogue TV switch-off by 2018. Back to Contents RESTRICTIONS ON RETAILERS AND MERCHANTS FROM SELLING DANGEROUS OBJECTS TO MINORS

12 Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether there are restrictions against retailers and merchants from selling dangerous objects such as knives or blades to minors 10 and, if not, whether the Ministry will consider reviewing their polices to do so.

Mr K Shanmugam: Police do not impose an age restriction on persons who are allowed to buy objects like blades and knives from retailers, and do not have the intention to do so for now. It is neither practical nor effective to regulate their sale as many of them, like kitchen knives and Swiss-army knives, are common items used for a myriad of everyday activities. However, anyone found in possession of blades and knives in a public area without a lawful purpose may be liable for the offence of possessing an offensive weapon under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act. The penalty is up to three years' imprisonment and caning of not less than six strokes. Back to Contents REASONS FOR PEDESTRIAN DEATHS CAUSED BY JAYWALKING FROM 2011 TO 2016

13 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Ministry has done any study to understand the reasons for jaywalking and, if so, what is the outcome; (b) how many pedestrians have been killed over the past five years because of jaywalking; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider a public campaign against jaywalking.

Mr K Shanmugam: Between 2012 and 2016, on average, 20 jaywalkers were killed each year. Elderly pedestrians were especially vulnerable, accounting for about 60% of the fatalities. A 2015 study conducted by Traffic Police (TP) found that a key reason for jaywalking was that pedestrians did not consider jaywalking as unsafe to themselves or to other road users. This, of course, is a gross misperception. TP has stepped up its engagement efforts against jaywalking, especially vis-à-vis elderly pedestrians. In November last year, TP launched the Road Master Test Kit. The self- administered test kit allows elderly pedestrians to assess their eyesight, hearing and reaction time, and provides information on the risks of jaywalking. TP has been using the test kit to educate and engage elderly road users at Senior Activity Centres and community events. To date, TP has distributed a total of 4,000 test kits, and will continue to do so. TP also conducts wider engagement and education activities such as the "Singapore Road Safety Month", "Shell Traffic Games", and "Use Your RoadSense" campaigns. These campaigns 11 help raise awareness of jaywalking as part of their wider emphasis on pedestrian and motorist safety. In addition, the Singapore Road Safety Council launched an online video in October 2017, to remind pedestrians on how to stay safe, including using only designated crossings, underpasses and overhead bridges, to cross the road. Back to Contents ENSURING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AT PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

14 Mr Ong Teng Koon asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether there are plans for Government agencies such as the Traffic Police, LTA and NEA to work together to jointly deploy surveillance technologies to achieve their various goals including ensuring pedestrian safety at pedestrian crossings or zebra crossings.

15 Mr Ong Teng Koon asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the number of accidents that have occurred in each of the past three years as a result of motor vehicles failing to slow down and take adequate care at pedestrian or zebra crossings; and (b) how does the Traffic Police ensure that motorists comply with existing traffic rules to slow down near such crossings.

Mr K Shanmugam: Between 2014 and 2016, there were on average about 220 accidents involving pedestrians at signalised pedestrian crossings and zebra crossings each year. Most occurred because the motorist had failed to drive safely. The Traffic Police (TP) uses cameras to deter and detect irresponsible driving. Red-light and speeding cameras have been deployed at high-risk areas. TP also conducts enforcement operations at pedestrian crossings. To support its investigations into accidents, TP also obtains footages from the camera networks of other Government agencies, including the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Housing Development Board (HDB). The availability of images from in-vehicle cameras has also helped. In December 2014, TP's 'E-Feedback on Road Users' portal was enhanced to allow members of the public to upload video footages. TP investigates all submitted footages. Penalties for irresponsible driving are heavy. A motorist who has caused death through rash driving is liable for imprisonment term for up to five years, a fine, or both. MHA is currently reviewing the penalties, to ensure that they remain an effective deterrent against 12 irresponsible driving. Notwithstanding TP's various efforts, pedestrians, cyclists and users of personal mobility devices must themselves exercise due care before crossing the road, even when they have the right of way. They should always check for traffic to make sure that the road is clear before crossing. Back to Contents STATISTICS ON SINGAPORE CITIZENSHIP GRANTED TO FOREIGNERS FROM 2008 TO 2017

16 Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for Home Affairs for each year from 2008 to 2017, what is the breakdown of the number of Singapore citizenship applications received and approved for (i) foreigners married to Singapore citizens (SCs) and with SC children (ii) foreigners married to SCs and with non-SC children (iii) foreigners married to SCs and with no children and (iv) foreigners on work passes.

Mr K Shanmugam: From 2008 to 2016, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) granted Singapore citizenship (SC) to around 20,000 individuals each year, of whom around 4,300 were married to Singaporeans. ICA is unable to break down the data by whether these individuals had any SC or non-SC children. Foreigners on work passes are not eligible for SC. They must have obtained Permanent Resident status before their SC application will be considered. Back to Contents DISPOSABLE INCOME LIMIT TO QUALIFY FOR LEGAL AID

17 Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling asked the Minister for Law whether the current disposable income limit of $10,000 under the means testing to qualify for legal aid is still relevant compared with the cap of per capita income in other schemes which have increased over time.

Mr K Shanmugam: The Ministry of Law regularly reviews the means test which applicants have to satisfy for civil legal aid. Our last review was conducted in 2013, to allow approximately 25% of Singapore citizens and permanent residents to qualify for legal aid, up 13 from 17% previously. To qualify for legal aid, an applicant's disposable income cannot be more than S$10,000 per year and his disposal capital cannot be more than S$10,000. Disposable income is different from gross income. Disposable income allows for permitted deductibles (such as the expenses of the applicant and his dependants, CPF contributions, and rent) to be excluded. For example, an applicant with three dependants and a gross annual income of S$60,000 may have an annual disposable income of less than S$10,000 after excluding all permitted deductibles. In this way, the permitted deductibles take into account the specific circumstances of the individual. In the 2013 review, permitted deductibles were raised to account for increases in the cost of living. In addition, a new deductible was introduced for family proceedings which involve children or protection orders to help the most vulnerable persons in a family dispute be eligible for legal aid. All these amendments help vulnerable applicants of limited means qualify for legal aid. Back to Contents PLANS FOR SLA LAND AT WAN THO AVENUE LEASED TO ST JOHN'S HOME FOR ELDERLY PERSONS

18 Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked the Minister for Law what are SLA's plans for the 9,000 square metres of land that St John's Home for Elderly Persons currently leases and occupies at Wan Tho Avenue once the land is returned to SLA upon its lease expiry in 2021.

Mr K Shanmugam: The 0.9-hectare parcel which currently forms part of the premises occupied by the St John's Home for Elderly Persons (SJH) will return to the State upon expiry of the tenancy in 2021. This land parcel is currently zoned Civic and Community Institution in URA's Master Plan. Options being studied by agencies include introducing new community and social facilities that could serve the needs of the larger population over time. The detailed plans will be firmed up in due course. SJH is currently redeveloping and consolidating its operations within a separate 0.33-hectare parcel that it holds on a 30-year lease till 2045. Agencies will continue to work with SJH to ensure a smooth transition. Back to Contents

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STATISTICS OF PERSONS SUED BY PUBLIC HOSPITALS FOR ARREARS OF HOSPITAL BILLS

19 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Health for the last two years, how many persons have been sued in court by public hospitals for arrears of hospital bills.

Mr : In the last two years, 26 individuals were issued writs of summons for the arrears of bills by our public healthcare institutions, of which 15 cases were settled out- of-court, one case resulted in default judgment and was resolved with the individual making payment, and the remaining 10 cases are still in progress. These figures exclude employers who are required to pay for their employees' medical bills but have not done so. It is important for patient bills to be paid promptly so as not to deprive public healthcare institutions of the resources they need to deliver healthcare services to patients. For Singaporeans, Government subsidies and MediShield Life cover a significant proportion of public hospital bills. Medisave can be used to help defray the costs of the remainder of the bill. Singaporeans who face difficulties with their healthcare bills can approach our medical social workers for assistance. Back to Contents PARTICIPATING COMPANIES AND EMPLOYEES IN NATIONAL STEPS CHALLENGE

20 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Health (a) how many companies and employees have participated in the previous seasons of the National Steps Challenge; (b) what is the number of companies and employees targeted for the Corporate Challenge of this season's National Steps Challenge; (c) what measures are in place to promote the Corporate Challenge among companies based in Singapore; and (d) whether and how such measures are evaluated for their effectiveness.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: To encourage working adults to participate in the National Steps ChallengeTM, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) introduced a Corporate Challenge in Season 2 which lasted from 14 November 2016 to 28 February 2017. Over 65,000 employees from 260 organisations participated in the Corporate Challenge. 15

The National Steps ChallengeTM has successfully motivated more Singaporeans to become more active. When individuals took part in the Corporate Challenge, we found that participants walked an additional 1,500 steps per day on average. Interviews with participants indicated that peer influence and organisational support were instrumental in motivating them to walk more. A competitive team element also spurred participants to improve and sustain their efforts. The upcoming season of the Corporate Challenge will take place from 1 December 2017 to 31 March 2018. HPB aims to attract 90,000 employees to participate. HPB has been actively engaging trade associations, chambers and unions, such as Singapore Manufacturing Federation, Food Industry Asia, Singapore National Employees Federation, NTUC's U Live and Singapore International Chamber of Commerce to reach out to their member companies. We will continue to reach out to more corporations and individuals to participate in the National Steps ChallengeTM and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Back to Contents STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN SINGAPORE

21 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the state of mental health in Singapore; and (b) whether the Ministry will conduct a comprehensive national study of the state of mental health encompassing the study of mental illnesses and the study of the social perception, stigmatisation and consequences of mental illness.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: In 2010, the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) conducted the first Singapore Mental Health Study which concluded that 9.3% of Singapore Residents would have at least one mood3 or anxiety disorder at some point of their adult lifetime. Among the illnesses assessed, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) were the most common mental health conditions in Singapore. MDD affected one in 17 Singapore Residents and OCD affected one in 33 Singapore Residents at some point in their lifetimes. The second Singapore Mental Health Study is currently underway. It will inform us how the mental health landscape has changed in the years since the first study and provide insights into other conditions such as schizophrenia and sleep disorders.

3 Mood disorders refer to conditions in which there may be elevated or depressed moods, such as major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymia, and bipolar disorder. Dysthymia has less severe symptoms than MDD but may last longer. Bipolar disorder is characterised by mania which is an abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood.

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In addition, IMH has also conducted the Mental Health Literacy Study, which was completed in 2016. The study focused on social perceptions and stigmatisation of mental illness. The study suggested considerable stigma towards individuals with mental health conditions, which could hinder such individuals from seeking treatment. Government agencies, healthcare providers and community partners have been working together on efforts to reduce the stigma of mental health conditions and encourage help-seeking. For example, the National Council of Social Services (NCSS) is embarking on a multi-year public education campaign to promote a more inclusive society for persons with mental health conditions. The enhanced Community Mental Health Masterplan announced in 2017 is being implemented to strengthen community-based care for persons with mental health conditions. These included initiatives to better outreach to individuals suffering from mental health conditions for early treatment, and enhancement of mental health services in the primary care sector. Back to Contents UPDATE ON INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION MAPS AND GLOBAL INNOVATION ALLIANCE

22 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) whether he can provide a progress update on the Industry Transformation Maps and the Global Innovation Alliance.

Mr S Iswaran: The Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) and Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) were two key initiatives proposed by the Committee on the Future Economy. We are making good progress on both of these. Through the ITMs, lead agencies and their partners are putting in place industry-specific transformation strategies for 23 industries that make up 80% of our economy. 13 ITMs have been launched so far, and the remainder will be rolled out by the end of this financial year. Each ITM consists of a growth and competitiveness plan, supported by four pillars – productivity, jobs and skills, innovation, and trade and internationalisation. Each ITM also addresses the Government’s role in enabling industry upgrading, for example, through conducive regulations. Alongside the ITMs, we have also launched Skills Frameworks to support the jobs and skills pillar, which provide information on career pathways, job roles, skills needs, and relevant 17 training programmes. Implementation of the strategies and plans in the ITMs has started. For example, as part of the Precision Engineering ITM, A*STAR's Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) recently launched a model factory, which allows SMEs to experience and experiment with advanced manufacturing technologies in a real-life production environment. Leveraging on their collaboration with SIMTech, SMEs such as JEP Aerospace and Feinmetall have started the digital transformation journey in their own factories. Another recently launched example is the 'hive' trade facilitation platform developed by Singapore Logistics Association to build trade connectivity, as part of the Wholesale Trade ITM. It enables businesses to quickly and efficiently meet cross-border trade compliance requirements for more than 50 Customs authorities worldwide, increasing productivity. The objective of the GIA is to establish networks to create more opportunities for Singaporean students, entrepreneurs and business owners to gain overseas experience, connect and collaborate with overseas partners. Since the announcement in Budget 2017, EDB has set up the GIA Programme Office (GIA PO) to coordinate the initiative. EDB, IE Singapore, SPRING and MOE have been engaging various in-market Operating Partners to set up GIA networks in the four focus cities under GIA Phase 1 (San Francisco, Beijing, Jakarta, Bangkok). For instance, building on the successful establishment of BLOCK71 in San Francisco, we launched "BLOCK71 Jakarta" in July this year, to provide a co-working space that aims to catalyse mutually beneficial partnerships between Indonesian and Singaporean start-ups. For Bangkok and Beijing, IE Singapore has signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with tech partners to help Singapore start-ups better understand these markets, test-bed their products, and work with overseas players to implement solutions. For access to Thailand, this includes partnerships with tech community builders C asean and Hubba; for access to China, this includes partnerships with startup accelerator AIRMaker, NTUitive (the innovation and enterprise arm of Nanyang Technological University) and Chinese media platform 36Kr. We will continue to work with suitable partners and strengthen our GIA networks. Initiatives like the ITMs and the GIA will support our growth and transformation efforts, and position Singapore well for the future. Back to Contents

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TAX REGIMES GOVERNING DRIVERS OF TAXIS AND PRIVATE-HIRE CARS

23 Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked the Minister for Finance (a) whether there is a disparity between the tax regimes governing drivers of taxis and private-hire cars and, if so, what are the reasons for the differences; and (b) in view of the similarities between both types of point-to- point transport services, whether the Ministry has plans to bring the tax regimes in line with each other.

Mr : Taxi drivers are allowed to claim tax deduction for expenses incurred in the production of their income. These tax-deductible expenses include vehicle rental fee, diesel, and parking charges. As for private-hire ride-hailing car drivers, deduction for tax is not allowed in respect of expenses incurred on the car. This is because such drivers cannot be assumed to use their cars pre-dominantly for business purposes. Many drive on a part-time or casual basis. This treatment supports our national policy to manage the car population, and is applied to both corporate and individual taxpayers. For example, companies are similarly not allowed to claim tax deduction on any expenses incurred for a private car. Private-hire ride-hailing car drivers can however claim deduction for other non-car expenses. Such allowable deductible expenses include commission paid to third-party operators, administrative charges imposed by third-party operators, and the proportion of expenses for mobile phones used in the course of providing their services. As the regulatory regimes and business models for taxi and ride-hailing services remain different, there are no plans to harmonise the tax regimes for now. Back to Contents MEASURES TO LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR GST-REGISTERED LOCAL SUPPLIERS VS NON-GST REGISTERED OVERSEAS SUPPLIERS

24 Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng asked the Minister for Finance in view of the rapid development of the digital economy whereby local businesses and consumers will increasingly buy goods and services from overseas suppliers (a) what steps are being taken to level the playing field between GST-registered local suppliers and non-GST registered overseas suppliers; 19 and (b) when will the implementation of measures to level the playing field take place.

Mr Heng Swee Keat: As mentioned by the Minister for Finance in his Budget statement in February this year, we are studying how we could make the necessary adjustments to our GST system, to ensure that local businesses which are GST-registered, are not disadvantaged due to digital transactions and cross-border trade. In May 2017, IRAS launched its consultation papers on the proposed reverse charge and overseas vendor registration regime to seek feedback and suggestions from the various stakeholders. IRAS is in the process of engaging these businesses and associations on the different ideas for taxing such cross-border goods and services in the digital economy. A wide range of segments are being engaged, including financial institutions, e-commerce companies, electronic marketplace operators, logistics players and consultancy firms. We are also monitoring developments in other countries. We will take into account the feedback gathered and the issues raised in our review. If any measure is to be announced by the Government, lead time will be provided for implementation. Back to Contents STRICTER SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR HIGH-RISK SPORTS

25 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether mixed martial arts can be subjected to stricter safety regulations; and (b) whether it can be made mandatory for public sports events, particularly those of high-risk sports, to come under the purview of Sport Singapore.

Ms Hai Yien: For the vast majority of sports, the respective International Federations and National Sports Associations in Singapore determine the rules and safety protocols to ensure the safety of participants in training and during competitions. Event organisers who conduct competitions under the ambit of these sport governing bodies can be held to account for neglecting safety measures. However, mixed martial arts contests tend to be organised as part of commercial entertainment events owned by private promoters, where the sanction that the sports governing bodies can effectively bring to bear is curtailed. To guide sports stakeholders on safety, the Sports Safety Committee established by Sport 20

Singapore (SportSG) periodically reviews and publishes the Overview and Recommendations for Sports Safety in Singapore, with the aim of establishing a comprehensive approach to minimising sports safety incidents, in line with international best practices. The last review was completed in 2015. The Committee recommended that sports event organisers safeguard the well-being of their participants by minimally implementing a comprehensive risk management plan, conducting pre-event evaluation for participants, and deploying properly-trained medical personnel. Organisers of events deemed to be high-risk are advised to standby additional medical resources. Participants also need to exercise personal responsibility by taking safety precautions, being well prepared when participating in sports activities, and refrain from participating if they feel unwell on the day of an event. SportSG will continue to work with sports stakeholders to strengthen public education and raise awareness of the importance of safety at sports events to make sports safer for all. Back to Contents MEASURES TO MITIGATE ENCOUNTERS WITH WILD BOARS

26 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for National Development whether AVA will be implementing measures to mitigate encounters with wild boars and ensure public safety in Pasir Ris Punggol where wild boars have been sighted in the past.

Mr : Government agencies have been working closely with stakeholders including ACRES, NUS, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, and nature groups on several fronts. First, we will continue to monitor and manage the wild boar populations in their natural habitats. There are not that many wild boars in our nature reserves. But we have identified a few hotspots where the numbers are higher due to the availability of food. Agencies have been removing oil palms at these hotspots as palm fruit is a favoured food source of the boars. In areas where human feeding occurs, like Pasir Ris-Punggol, enforcement action will be taken. It is important for the public to stop this feeding because this changes the natural behaviour of the boars. Low railings will also be installed in places where these hotspots abut roads to discourage the boars from wandering beyond forested areas. Second, we will manage the movement of wild boars when forested State land is cleared for development. NParks will continue to advise agencies and developers to shepherd wild boars 21 towards other contiguous forested sites and to hoard up areas that are near residential estates and roads. This will reduce the probability of wild boars escaping into public residential areas. In addition, we will step up public education efforts on human-wildlife encounters. AVA and NParks are working on materials to educate residents on what to do when they encounter wild boars or other animals. We will continue to work with stakeholders in residential areas to manage the wild boar issues and ensure public safety. Back to Contents PRICE GAP BETWEEN PRIVATE HOUSING AND HDB RESALE AND BTO FLATS

27 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for National Development whether the price gap between (i) private housing and HDB resale flats and (ii) private housing and HDB BTO flats has narrowed respectively since the Total Debt Servicing Ratio framework was implemented.

Mr Lawrence Wong: The Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) framework was introduced in June 2013 to safeguard financial prudence and prevent individuals from over-leveraging when they purchase private housing with housing loans from Financial Institutions (FIs). For those purchasing an HDB flat, they are likewise subject to a Mortgage Servicing Ratio (MSR) limit if they take an FI-originated or HDB housing loan. These measures have helped to moderate prices in both the private and public housing markets. The majority of HDB BTO flats built in the past few years were in non-mature estates, which are located in the outside central region (OCR). For this region, the median price gap between private housing and HDB BTO flats was 169% prior to June 2013 and is now 166%. Between private housing and HDB resale flats, the median price gap was 106% and is now 130%. However, as there are many different factors which could affect the prices of private and public housing, price comparisons between the two markets should be interpreted with care. The Government will continue to monitor the overall property market closely to ensure that it remains stable and sustainable. Back to Contents

22

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF PLASTIC BAGS AND TAKEAWAY CONTAINERS

28 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) whether the Ministry has completed its study covering the life cycle assessment of the different types of single carrier plastic bags and common food and beverage takeaway containers in Singapore and, if not, when is this study expected to be completed; and (b) whether the Ministry has determined if emissions from bio-degradable plastic bags are lower than non bio-degradable ones.

Mr B M M: The National Environment Agency (NEA) is studying the life cycle assessment of single-use carrier bags and disposable food packaging materials commonly used in Singapore. The studies analyse the cost and environmental impact, including emissions, of these materials. We will release the results of the study on single-use carrier bags by the end of this year. As for the study on disposable food packaging materials, we should complete it by end-2017 and release the results in the first half of 2018. Back to Contents RESULTS OF PUB'S CHECKS ON WATER PIPES IN BUKIT BATOK SMC

29 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what are the results of PUB's checks on the water pipes in Bukit Batok SMC; and (b) what are the steps it intends to take arising from its determination that the burst water pipe incidents occurring in Bukit Batok SMC in October 2017 were due to corrosion.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The pipes in Bukit Batok were last checked in January this year and found to be in good condition then. They were next due for inspection in January 2018. Following the recent leaks in Bukit Batok, PUB brought forward and completed the inspection of all 100km of water pipes in the estate. We did not detect any additional leaks. Our engineers have also investigated and concluded that the leaks at Bukit Batok West Avenue 6 and Bukit Batok East Avenue 3 were unrelated. Both pipes were laid about 35 years ago in the proper manner and met the material specifications required by PUB. At the time that they leaked, they 23 were well within their design lifespan of 70 years. The leaks were determined by PUB engineers to have been caused by localised corrosion. This can occur in places where the soil condition is harsher to the pipe material and when the water table is particularly high, which accelerates corrosion. We have replaced the leaking section of the pipe at Bukit Batok West Avenue 6, and are replacing all 170m of water pipes at Bukit Batok East Avenue 3. We expect the work to be completed ahead of schedule, by end- November. PUB operates a network of 5,500km of potable water pipes to deliver water to 1.4 million customer accounts. It continually monitors, inspects; and if need be, repairs or replaces pipes to minimise the loss of water due to leaks, and to ensure good water supply round the clock. Today, Singapore experiences about six leaks per 100km of pipes per year, which is among the lowest incidences in the world. In addition to continuous monitoring using more than 300 sensors, all pipes in PUB's 5,500km network are checked physically for leaks at least once a year, or more frequently where necessary. However, as almost all our water pipes are buried between 1m to 40m underground, it is challenging to assess the condition of buried pipes and detect minute leaks. PUB is thus test- bedding new technology such as acoustic sensors to monitor the pipelines and identify those which are not in satisfactory condition. PUB is also using pipes that are externally coated with poly-urethane. These pipes are more corrosion-resistant than pipes laid in earlier years. However, despite regular monitoring and inspection, leaks do occur, due largely to localised corrosion, uneven soil settlement or damage from construction work. Whenever pipes are found to be in unsatisfactory condition, they are either repaired or replaced under PUB’s Pipe Renewal Programme. As I have announced earlier this year, PUB is increasing its pace of pipe replacement. We are on track to replace 30km of pipes this year and will be able to replace 50km a year from next year onwards, one year ahead of schedule. While we aim to replace all faulty pipes before they fail, leaks like the ones which occurred in Bukit Batok will happen from time to time. PUB seeks to respond and fix the problem quickly, and most incidents are resolved within a few hours. Occasionally, due to the need to ensure that water supply to residents is not disrupted when leaking pipelines are isolated from the rest of the network, additional time is required to switch residents over to an alternate supply pipeline before the affected pipeline can be shut off. 24

Water is precious and everybody needs to do his or her part to conserve it. I would like to assure members and Singaporeans that PUB engineers will continue to put in their best effort to maintain Singapore's water supply network and ensure good water supply to customers round the clock. Back to Contents SENSOR SYSTEMS TO MONITOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS AND INDUSTRIAL ODOURS

30 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what is the rationale for NEA's calls for proposals to develop sensor systems to monitor emissions from diesel vehicles and to monitor odours generated through industrial activity; and (b) whether these sensors will provide the basis to act against polluters.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Vehicular and industrial emissions are significant sources of air pollution in Singapore. To enhance the National Environment Agency's (NEA) capabilities in addressing air pollution, the NEA is seeking technological solutions for remote real-time monitoring of emissions from diesel vehicles and industries. Regarding vehicular emissions, studies have shown that the pollutive emissions from diesel vehicles on the roads, mainly Nitrogen Oxides and Particulate Matter, can be higher than those measured in laboratory emission tests. The real-time vehicle emission monitoring system will enable NEA to more efficiently and effectively assess the extent and impact of emissions from diesel vehicles. The system will also support the review and enhancement of air pollution control measures. As for industrial emissions, NEA is seeking sensing devices and solutions to detect and monitor odours, characterise chemicals in the air and identify the sources of industrial odours. These will enhance NEA's current suite of sensors. Back to Contents ENHANCED ANTI-BULLYING HOTLINES FOR STUDENTS

31 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Education (Schools) (a) whether anti-bullying hotlines like the Singapore Children's Society's "Tinkle Friend" are publicised to all students; (b) what is being done to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of such hotlines; and (c) whether 25 aggregated and anonymised data from such hotlines can be analysed to determine if there are patterns requiring further intervention.

Mr : MOE works closely with community partners in our efforts to address the bullying issue. For example, Singapore Children's Society conducts bullying awareness programme for students and training workshop for Teachers and school counsellors. As part of these programmes, the avenues for support and the message of help-seeking are promoted. In schools, the counsellors introduce the various sources of school- and community-based support, including hotlines, to students, staff and parents via communication channels such as talks, newsletters and school web portals. In addition, the community partners may refer students back to schools for continual support, where necessary. These hotlines are run by community partners and Voluntary Welfare Organisations. These help channels allow users to call in anonymously. This could limit the identification of in- depth patterns to inform intervention. If the community partners have studied the data they have, and are willing to share with MOE, we can work with them to improve our intervention efforts. Back to Contents REGULAR ATTENDANCE OF CHILDREN IN PRIMARY SCHOOL

32 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in light of the requirement under the Compulsory Education Act for a parent to ensure that his child attends primary school regularly, whether the Ministry intends to update the criteria under the Children and Young Persons Act to include the situation of a parent or guardian of a child neglecting to ensure that the child attends primary school regularly when determining whether a child or young person is in need of care or protection.

Mr Desmond Lee: The reasons for irregular school attendance are often complex. There may be underlying stressors faced by the family, including marital, financial, substance abuse or health challenges. These issues may temporarily affect a family's ability to care for a child. As articulated in Parliament when the Compulsory Education (CE) Act was introduced, parents are primarily responsible for ensuring their children attend school regularly. The family and community should play an active role in supporting parents to send their children to school 26 before the State steps in to compel them to do so. It is not necessary for the Children and Young Persons Act to specifically cover irregular school attendance as the framework established by the CE Act already covers this aspect. Recognising that irregular attendance at school can be due to multiple and complex factors, MOE takes a holistic approach by working with parents, schools, community groups, and relevant agencies to counsel and support the family to help all students attend school. Legal enforcement is considered when all intervention and counselling efforts have been exhausted. The Children and Young Persons Act is intended to protect primarily children who have been seriously harmed or are at risk of serious harm. In such situations, the Ministry's Child Protective Service will intervene and work with community partners and the family through a range of services, to address the safety and well-being of children and young persons. Early intervention remains key to reaching out to these families. The Social Service Offices and community partners such as the Family Service Centres also stand ready to help families through their challenges. Back to Contents ARRESTED JUVENILES ADMITTED INTO JUVENILE HOMES

33 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in each of the past three years (a) how many of arrested juveniles have been ordered by the courts to be admitted into juvenile homes as defined in the Children and Young Persons Act; and (b) how many of such juvenile offenders admitted into these homes have at least one parent who is incarcerated or has been incarcerated before.

Mr Desmond Lee: Under the Children and Young Persons Act, juveniles who commit offences may be ordered by the Youth Court to be sent to a Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre (JRC) or a Place of Detention. Those sent to a Place of Detention are typically also placed on probation. The Singapore Boys' Home (SBH) and Singapore Girls' Home (SGH) serve both functions. The number of juvenile offenders admitted to SBH and SGH each year is in Table 1.

27

Table 1 – Juvenile Offenders Admitted to SBH and SGH

Year of Admission SBH (Male) SGH (Female) 2014 224 33 2015 194 29 2016 130 26

About two-fifths of the juvenile offenders in SBH and SGH have a family member who had been incarcerated before. Back to Contents

Office of the Clerk of Parliament Singapore, 6 November 2017