Volume 94 Tuesday No 24 13 September 2016

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS

Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer Not Answered by 3.00pm

Page

31. Reconstruction of Novena Pedestrian Underpasses (Mr Yik Chye) 1 32. Fostering Community Unity with SGSecure (Mr ) 1 34. Action against Anti-social Neighbours (Mr ) 2 35. Popularity of Pre-fabricated Construction in Building Industry (Mr Ziming) 3 37. Thermal Comfort as Pre-requisite for Air-conditioned Spaces (Mr Kok Kwang) 4 38, 39. Accreditation and Licensing of Psychologists and Psychotherapists (Ms K Thanaletchimi ) 5 40. Take-up Rate for Home Access Plan to Aid Low-income Families with Internet Connectivity (Mr ) 6 42. Singapore's Financial Contribution to Support Syrian Refugees (Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang) 7 43. Benefits and Allowances for Grassroots Leaders and Advisers (Mr ) 8 44. New Benchmark for Madrasahs under New PSLE Scoring System (Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap) 9 45. Security Measures for Primary and Secondary Schools in Light of Growing Terror Threat (Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye) 9 46. Practice by Managed Care Companies for Doctors to Pay Administrative Fees for Referral of Patients (Mr ) 11 47. Subsidised or Free Health Screening Packages under MediShield Life (Ms ) 12 48. Impact of Indonesia's Plan to Stop Its Foreign Domestic Workers from Living in Singaporean Employers' Homes (Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye) 14 51. Considerations behind Decision to Convert Coupon Parking to Electronic Parking Systems in Housing Estates (Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap) 13 53. Pre-employment Tuberculosis Screening for Pre-school Staff (Mr Lip Fong) 14 54. Nuisance Posed by Chironomids from Pandan Reservoir (Ms ) 15

55. Reviewing Provision of Plastic Bags at Retail Shops (Miss ) 16 56. Coaching Researchers to Help Them Relate Better to Business Needs (Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng) 17 58. Safety Interlock Systems and Height Warning Devices for Crane Booms (Mr Murali Pillai) 18 59. Rationale for Alternative Ownership Model for Changi Airport Terminal 5 (Er Dr ) 18 60. Safeguards for Sale of Financial Products to Vulnerable Groups (Mr ) 19 62. Freezing of Eggs of Healthy Women for Future Use (Miss Cheng Li Hui) 20 63. Proposal for Special One-off Public Holiday to Celebrate Singapore's First Olympic Gold Medal (Mr ) 24 64. Unjust Termination of Employment for Employees Diagnosed with Tuberculosis (Dr ) 23 65. Financial Deficits in HDB Car Park Operations (Assoc Prof Pei Siong) 23 66. Formula Used in Deriving New Public Parking Rates (Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap) 27 67. Protection for Foreign Spouses and Children when Marriages with Singapore Citizens Break Down (Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin) 27 69. Provision of Recycling Bins in Schools to Educate Students on Environmental Responsibility (Miss Cheng Li Hui) 27 70. Possibility of Fare Reduction with New Operating Models for Public Transport (Mr ) 28 72. Use of CPF Savings for Housing Loan for Flats with Less Than 60 Years Lease (Ms Joan Pereira) 29 73. Purchase of Second Property for HDB Flat and Private Property Owners (Mr Zainal Sapari) 30 74. Complaints of Foul Smell during Rubbish Collections (Dr ) 30 76. Legal and Policy Distinction between Legitimate and Illegitimate Children (Mr ) 31 77. List of Registered Medical Practitioners who are Lasting Power of Attorney Certificate Issuers (Ms Joan Pereira) 32 78. Workplace Safety for Female Employees of Child-bearing Age (Ms K Thanaletchimi ) 33 79. Recognition of Medical Certificates Issued by Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (Mr Teck Guan) 34 81. HDB's Mechanised Parking System at Three Sites (Mr ) 35 82. Update on Iskandar Malaysia Project (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 36

RECONSTRUCTION OF NOVENA PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASSES

31 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Transport (a) what are the options to reconstruct the two Novena pedestrian underpasses as part of the North-South Corridor project given that the existing underpasses are set to be demolished; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider improving the reconstructed underpasses or linkways to make it more user-friendly to the elderly, disabled and parents with strollers.

Mr : The existing two underpasses connect Goldhill Centre to Novena MRT Station, and Revenue House to Novena Square respectively. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be reconstructing them to connect all four locations. This will be an improvement over today’s situation. LTA will also be installing lifts at the entrances and exits of the reconstructed underpasses. Back to Contents FOSTERING COMMUNITY UNITY WITH SGSECURE

32 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Home Affairs how SGSecure will help foster the unity needed to overcome threats to Singapore.

Mr K Shanmugam: SGSecure is a call to action to to unite and prepare for the threat of a terrorist attack. SGSecure builds on the work that we embarked upon in 2006 under the Community Engagement Programme, or CEP. The CEP began as an initiative to preserve and strengthen communal harmony and cohesion in the aftermath of a terror attack. We decided to do this because we saw what happened after the London 7/7 bombings in 2005, when some segments of the community became targets of hate crime. Over time, the CEP expanded its objectives to also prepare our people to be resilient and better prepared for any crisis or emergency. In the last 10 years, the CEP has laid the groundwork and built networks of trust, so that we will stand strong and united. In today’s heightened security climate, it is even more urgent that we continue to strengthen the bonds among our various communities. Terrorist attacks can have a crippling effect on societies that extends beyond the physical devastation. In some instances, we have seen

how terrorism has fomented distrust among fellow citizens, making their efforts to stand united and bounce back as one people more challenging. There are lessons for Singapore in this regard. We must ask ourselves how we will react when a terrorist attack happens here, especially if the perpetrators are fellow Singaporeans. Will our communal ties remain strong? Will we be able to overcome suspicion and fear? Will we refrain from pointing fingers, and instead help and support fellow Singaporeans, regardless of race or religion, to overcome the trauma of an attack? To enhance our community response, two key pillars in SGSecure - “Stay United” and “Stay Strong” – will specifically focus on the need for the community to stay united in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, to pull closer together by helping one another, and to be able to bounce back quickly to show that we will not be cowed. SGSecure will be officially launched by the Prime Minister on 24 September. Members will hear more about the SGSecure programmes which MHA and its partner agencies will be rolling out across the various domains, such as schools, workplaces, national service community and community groups. Back to Contents ACTION AGAINST ANTI-SOCIAL NEIGHBOURS

34 Mr Darryl David asked the Minister for National Development what action can be taken towards recalcitrant HDB residents who create persistent problems for their neighbours such as noise pollution, hoarding, cluttering public areas, poor environmental hygiene and disrupting the peace.

Mr : The approach to take depends on the nature of the issue involved. If there are clear regulatory breaches by these “recalcitrant residents”, then it is best to approach the relevant agency. For instance, if the issue is over obstruction of the common corridor, and there is a clear breach of the rules, then residents can approach the Town Councils. If it is a case of smoking or littering, then NEA will enforce. Or if it is a case of hoarding, then HDB officers will step in to carry out inspections, and if the hoarding is assessed to be excessive, HDB will ask the residents to remove the unwanted items. Sometimes, the anti-social behaviours may not be regulatory breaches but involve private disputes between neighbours. In such cases, we want as much as possible for the individuals

concerned to take responsibility and ownership of their own issues. They should first speak to each other and strive to resolve the matter amicably. If the issue cannot be resolved, disputants can seek help from a neutral third party, such as a grassroots leader to facilitate resolution. Such intervention or informal mediation goes a long way to prevent simple conflicts from escalating further. Should informal mediation be unsuccessful, the case can be referred to the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) for mediation. Where the cases involve long-standing and intractable disputes between neighbours, the aggrieved parties can bring a claim to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals as a last resort. Back to Contents POPULARITY OF PRE-FABRICATED CONSTRUCTION IN BUILDING INDUSTRY

35 Mr Alex Yam Ziming asked the Minister for National Development (a) what has been the overall take-up rate for pre-fabricated construction in the building industry for (i) the public sector and (ii) the private sector; (b) what have been the key benefits of the Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) method; and (c) how will the Ministry be helping the industry to transit into pre-fabrication over the next few years.

Mr Lawrence Wong: In prefabricated construction, on-site construction activities are shifted to factories off-site. Components that are prefabricated in the factory are then transported to work sites for installation. This approach is called Design for Manufacturing and Assembly or DfMA. Prefabrication technologies from the DfMA spectrum include structural steel, Prefabricated Bathroom Units, Mass Engineered Timber, and Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction or PPVC. The overall take up rate for prefabricated construction has been increasing. In the last three years (from 2013-2015) for example, the prefabrication level for public sector projects, in terms of constructed floor area, has increased from 30% to almost 50%. In tandem, the prefabrication level for private sector projects doubled from around 10% to around 20%. This is a positive development because DfMA technologies result in significant manpower savings, shorter construction times, improved workmanship, and reduced dis-amenity to residents. One recent example is the Crowne Plaza Hotel Expansion project at Changi Airport.

By using PPVC, the project achieved 40% on-site manpower savings and a three month reduction in construction time. However, we recognise that using new technologies comes with a steep learning curve and a cost premium. So under the Construction Productivity Roadmap, we have taken a multi- pronged approach to build up the DfMA ecosystem and help industry with this transition. (a) First, we are generating lead demand for these technologies through incorporating these building methods in public sector projects, and stipulating certain productivity requirements in government land sales. For example, at selected GLS sites, we have required at least 65% of the applicable floor area to be constructed using PPVC. (b) Second, we are building up our supply capacity by increasing our local production capability and bringing in qualified overseas suppliers; (c) Third, we are easing regulatory hurdles to facilitate the adoption of innovative and productive technologies; (d) Finally, through the Construction Productivity and Capability Fund (CPCF), we will continue to incentivise the adoption of DfMA technologies and encourage industry practitioners to build up their manpower capabilities. Taken together, these measures should drive down the cost premium by achieving greater economies of scale while reducing impediments to DfMA adoption. Ultimately, we hope to see the industry embrace more prefabrication in the future. Back to Contents THERMAL COMFORT AS PRE-REQUISITE FOR AIR-CONDITIONED SPACES

37 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development whether BCA will consider setting the criteria of thermal comfort as a pre-requisite requirement for air- conditioned spaces in all new and existing non-residential buildings including commercial, industrial and institutional buildings as part of its Green Mark Award certification schemes.

Mr Lawrence Wong: The Green Mark certification scheme was launched in 2005 to shape a greener and more sustainable built environment. The scheme allows developers to evaluate and benchmark their buildings to established environmental performance standards. There are both pre-requisite and voluntary criteria in the certification process

Under the revised Green Mark certification scheme of 2015, designing for thermal comfort is now a pre-requisite for certification for all new non-residential buildings. This includes commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. The specifications for thermal comfort are based on the Singapore Standards on air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation in buildings. Thermal comfort is currently a voluntary criterion for existing non-residential buildings applying for Green Mark certification today. BCA is reviewing the scheme and will consult industry stakeholders for their views. Ultimately, how comfortable the indoor environment is depends on how the building is operated. We encourage building owners and managers to be responsive to the needs of their tenants and dwellers. Back to Contents ACCREDITATION AND LICENSING OF PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHOTHERAPISTS

38 Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider accreditation and licensing of the psychologist profession and the setting up of professional standards so that the interest of Singaporeans seeking such services is safeguarded.

39 Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider accreditation and licensing of the psychotherapist profession and the setting up of professional standards so that the interest of Singaporeans seeking such services is safeguarded.

Mr : The registration of clinical psychologists and other allied health professionals is provided for under the Allied Health Professions Act. Since 2013, we have registered occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech-language therapists and from April this year, diagnostic radiographers and radiation therapists. Psychologists’ practices cover a wide range of job roles and settings beyond healthcare. For example, there are also educational psychologists, social psychologists, counselling psychologists and organisational and occupational psychologists. Given this wide range, we are studying in greater detail the issue of accrediting and licensing clinical psychologists. We are currently engaging the stakeholders to address such issues. In comparison, Psychotherapy is broadly used for mental health therapy, marriage and

family therapy and other personal social problems. Health care professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, medical social workers and nurses can apply psychotherapy or a form of it in their course of work. It is also used in non-health care related counselling. Psychotherapy is thus less well-defined and given its use across different groups and in different life situations and settings, it would be impractical to regulate the practice of psychotherapy currently. The Singapore Psychological Society and the Association of Psychotherapists and Counsellors have voluntary membership for psychologists and psychotherapists in Singapore. These organisations have published their own standards e.g. a code of ethics to guide their members and membership criteria. Back to Contents TAKE-UP RATE FOR HOME ACCESS PLAN TO AID LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

40 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Communications and Information with regard to the Home Access plan which makes Internet connectivity more affordable to the low-income group (a) what is the number of beneficiaries who have been pre-qualified for this plan by reason of them participating in government financial assistance schemes; (b) what percentage of such beneficiaries have signed up for the plan to date; (c) how many households have benefitted from the Home Access plan since its commencement in September 2014; and (d) what further plans does the Ministry have to improve digital inclusion amongst low-income households.

Assoc Prof Dr : Digital inclusion is a priority for my ministry. All Singaporeans must be able to access the opportunities in the digital economy, especially low income households, the elderly, and people with special needs. That is why IDA has implemented digital inclusion programmes for a decade, which have benefited more than 32,000 low-income households. Our Digital Inclusion initiative comprises several programmes, including the Home Access Programme and NEU PC Plus. The Home Access Programme, which Mr Murali Pillai asked about, provides low income families without school-going children with subsidised broadband connectivity and a tablet. So far, 5,000 households have benefited from the Home Access Programme.

Mr Murali asked about the number of households which have pre-qualified for this Programme. Over 2,000 households which are on long-term Government assistance schemes have been pre-qualified and notified. To date, 100 of these households are on the Home Access Programme. The rest may not see a need to take up this scheme at this time. The NEU PC Plus Programme is targeted at low income households with school children and persons with disabilities, who may need more support for their schooling and other needs. The Programme provides beneficiaries with a desktop or laptop, and three years of free broadband. These schemes require a small co-payment, but needy families can tap on IDA’s iNSPIRE and defray their co-payment by doing some community service. More than 27,000 low-income households have benefitted from NEU PC Plus. We constantly enhance our schemes to keep pace with the changing infocomm landscape. Earlier this month, I announced two enhancements to the NEU PC Plus programme. First, we raised the monthly household income cap from $3,000 to $3,400. We also raised the per capital monthly income for households with persons with disabilities from $875 to $1,125. These changes have enabled another 5,000 households to benefit from the scheme over the next five years. The second enhancement makes provision to allow special education students already on financial assistance to receive a subsidy of up to 75% more easily. Previously, there would be an assessment on whether their subsidies are pegged at up to 50% or 75%. Now, they would qualify for the up to 75% directly. Back to Contents SINGAPORE'S FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT SYRIAN REFUGEES

42 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Ministry will consider increasing Singapore's financial contribution to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in order to provide more support to Syrian refugees in light of the escalating humanitarian crisis unfolding in Syria.

Dr : Mr Ng asked whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would consider increasing Singapore’s financial contribution to the Office of UN High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, in order to provide more support to Syrian refugees in light of the ongoing Syrian conflict.

Singapore commends the UNHCR, and other humanitarian organisations, for their tremendous efforts to save lives in Syria in challenging conditions. As I said in this House in January this year, Singapore will continue to support the work of the UNHCR and humanitarian groups as they seek to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people. Singapore has been providing voluntary financial contributions to the UNHCR annually. We are not a major donor but a small country with limited resources. But as a responsible global citizen, we have increased our contributions to the UNHCR this year from US$50,000 to US$60,000. This is in recognition of the acute demands placed on the UNHCR, not just in Syria, but all around the world. Our contribution is comparable to those made by other ASEAN countries. The Syrian conflict is now into its sixth year. More than 400,000 Syrians have been killed. There are now more than 4.8 million Syrian refugees, and millions of internally displaced. The key actors in this conflict have acknowledged that the only way to end this conflict is to reach a political solution. We hope they can achieve this as soon as possible while ensuring the safety of civilians and that humanitarian assistance reaches those in need. Back to Contents BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES FOR GRASSROOTS LEADERS AND ADVISERS

43 Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth what are the past and current benefits given to grassroots leaders and advisers in terms of housing priority, primary school admission, allowance, and other benefits in kind.

Mr (for the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth): Grassroots Leaders (GRLs) are volunteers who serve the community actively. They help bond residents to weave our social fabric; gather feedback for government to improve our policies and services; and they help to close the last mile in our policy communications and delivery. The Government recognises GRLs’ contributions and facilitates their community work. Information on these schemes has been provided during previous Parliament sittings and has also been made available online separately. To facilitate their work, like engaging residents and conducting community activities, GRLs may apply for a special parking label after first purchasing a HDB season parking label.

This label allows them to park at designated car parks up to 11 pm in the constituency they serve. Eligible GRLs can apply for P1 registration for their children under Phase 2B in schools within the constituency they reside in. This is similar to school and parent volunteers. Eligible GRLs can apply for BTO flats and ECs under a HDB scheme. These long serving GRLs typically help to bond the new communities in the new estates. These schemes recognise the GRLs’ contributions to community building and provide platforms for them to continue strengthening their community services. To facilitate their work in their constituencies, Grassroots Advisers (GRAs) may also apply for the special parking label, after first purchasing a HDB season parking label. GRAs are not eligible for the P1 registration or HDB schemes mentioned above. Back to Contents NEW BENCHMARK FOR MADRASAHS UNDER NEW PSLE SCORING SYSTEM

44 Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Acting Minister for Education (Schools) what will be the new benchmark set for the six madrasahs under the new PSLE scoring system.

Mr : The basis of the benchmark for madrasahs remains unchanged under the new PSLE scoring system. It is pegged to the average PSLE Score of Malay pupils in the six lowest-performing national primary schools who take four Standard-level subjects. Since we announced the new PSLE scoring system last month, MOE has engaged school leaders, including the principals of the four full-time madrasahs offering primary-level education, to explain the new scoring system. We will continue to work with MCCY and MUIS to ensure that any queries or concerns that the madrasahs may have are adequately addressed. Back to Contents SECURITY MEASURES FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LIGHT OF GROWING TERROR THREAT

45 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Acting Minister for Education (Schools) (a) what are the security measures in place in primary and secondary schools in light of the growing threat of terrorism; (b) whether students and employees of schools are equipped with knowledge

on how to react in the event of an unexpected attack; and (c) what are the Ministry's plans to continue enhancing security in schools especially during after-school hours.

Mr Ng Chee Meng: The Ministry of Education (MOE) places great emphasis on the security and well-being of students and staff in our schools. A three-pronged security approach is adopted. First, schools are fenced and equipped with CCTV surveillance systems and gate barriers manned by security officers to control access. Second, there are security protocol and procedures to regulate movement within the schools. Third, the school maintains close partnerships with the neighbourhood police and the community at large. School staff and students are reminded to be vigilant and alert the authorities in the event of any suspicious activities or intruders. The Police also engage schools and communities through outreach programmes and disseminate security-related advisories. These school security measures are appropriately calibrated to the overall security environment of the country based on the threat assessment provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). MOE routinely reviews our security measures for effectiveness to ensure the robustness of our school security measures. The effort to prepare schools for emergencies has been put in place for some time now since 1990s. It is part of the national programme to prepare for civil emergencies and contingencies. All schools have a School Emergency Structure to deal with emergencies to respond, recover and restore the situation back to normalcy. School leaders, staff and students do take part in regular emergency training exercises to practise how to handle emergency situations in the school, including security incidents. The Police and SCDF are also involved in such training exercises and drills, and there is a robust relationship between the schools and the communities for effective collaboration in emergency responses. Ultimately, the key to addressing the growing security threats lies in greater community vigilance. Safety and security is a shared responsibility and each of us has a role to play. MOE will continue to review and update our school security and emergency plans, and to work with the Police and MHA to deter terrorist or criminal activity in our schools, and to respond effectively. Back to Contents

PRACTICE BY MANAGED CARE COMPANIES FOR DOCTORS TO PAY ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FOR REFERRAL OF PATIENTS

46 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the Singapore Medical Council is aware that some managed care companies require doctors to pay administrative fees for the "referral" of patients and, if so, what is their response; and (b) whether this practice will result in patients having to pay more.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Managed care has been a feature of our healthcare landscape for many years. Managed care companies serve to provide intermediary services to various stakeholders such as insurers, corporations, healthcare providers and patients. In recent months, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) have received feedback from individual doctors and the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) regarding managed care companies, or third party administrators (TPAs), entering into contracts with doctors, where the doctor would commit to pay a fee for each patient referred by the TPA. This raises concerns that TPA’s decisions on patient referral may be influenced by the fee arrangement rather than the interest of the patients. The doctor may in turn pass on the cost of the referral fee to the patient through higher charges. In some cases, the patient may not be aware of this, especially if his bills are fully covered by his insurance plan or employee benefits. It is of particular concern if the fee is determined as a percentage of the doctor’s charges, without relation to the actual services rendered by the TPA. The SMC is revising its current Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines, which already addresses fee-sharing between doctors, to also address fee-sharing between doctors and TPAs. The revised guidelines will explicitly state that doctors must not allow financial arrangements in managed care to lead to any compromise in the care of the patient. MOH is also working with the medical professional bodies and associations to raise doctors’ awareness of appropriate arrangements with TPAs. We will continue to work with the Life Insurance Association to remind the Integrated Shield Plan (IP) insurers to ensure that their appointed TPAs, if any, should not have any conflict of interest and should disclose to policyholders any financial arrangements they have with the doctor. Back to Contents

SUBSIDISED OR FREE HEALTH SCREENING PACKAGES UNDER MEDISHIELD LIFE

47 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider providing subsidised or free health screening packages for the insured under MediShield Life.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Evidence-based health screening plays an important role in helping individuals to detect chronic diseases early for prompt treatment. Since 2014, the Health Promotion Board has partnered GP clinics under the Screen for Life programme to provide free screening tests and subsidies for follow-up consultations for Pioneers and Community Health Assist Scheme cardholders. In addition, community health screenings are conducted by our Regional Health Systems. For example, the Eastern Health Alliance provides residents in the East with community health screenings and lifestyle management programmes. Healthcare workers will follow up with patients with abnormal test results to help them with their chronic disease management. As subsidised health screenings are widely available for different groups of Singaporeans, there are no plans to include these under MediShield Life which is a basic health insurance scheme to help pay for large hospital bills and selected outpatient treatments. We need to balance the scope of coverage and amount of benefits with premium affordability. As part of the War on Diabetes, MOH is reviewing the Screen for Life programme to encourage and support more Singaporeans in the target groups to undergo evidence-based screening, and importantly, to follow-up with a doctor if they have any abnormal screening results. Back to Contents IMPACT OF INDONESIA'S PLAN TO STOP ITS FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS FROM LIVING IN SINGAPOREAN EMPLOYERS' HOMES

48 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Manpower in view of Indonesia's plans to supply new foreign domestic workers (FDWs) on the condition that they do not have to live together with the employers (a) how will this position affect the supply of Indonesian FDWs to Singapore; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider abolishing the $5,000 security bond for such live-out FDWs.

Mr : The Indonesian authorities have not formally informed MOM of its plans for non-live in FDWs. Our employment agencies have also not reported disruption to the supply of live-in foreign domestic workers (FDWs) from Indonesia. We continue to welcome Indonesian FDWs into Singapore. The Security Bond (SB) applies to employers of FDWs, as well as foreign workers. It is to ensure that employers and workers comply with Work Permit conditions and is not tied to the live-in requirement. Hence, the issue of abolishing the security bond for non-live in FDWs does not arise. Apart from Indonesia, there are currently 11 other approved sources of FDWs1. MOM will continue to monitor the adequacy of our FDW supply. Back to Contents CONSIDERATIONS BEHIND DECISION TO CONVERT COUPON PARKING TO ELECTRONIC PARKING SYSTEMS IN HOUSING ESTATES

51 Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for National Development what are the considerations and deliberations behind the decision to convert coupon parking to electronic parking systems within residential neighbourhoods.

Mr Lawrence Wong: The electronic parking system (EPS) was initially implemented at all car parks serving Neighbourhood Centres and Town Centres to better manage the high parking demand, and thus far, it has been effective in doing so. With a per-minute charging structure, the EPS is also a fairer system as motorists will pay for the actual duration of parking, instead of half hour blocks if they use parking coupons. Furthermore, it is more convenient for motorists as they are informed when a car park is full so that they can park in another location. While there are upfront capital costs in setting up EPS at car parks, on average, the EPS has resulted in cost savings of 25% in the of daily operating costs of car parks as compared to the coupon parking system. With the benefits cited above, HDB will be implementing EPS at all residential car parks where it is feasible to do so.

1The 11 sources are as follows: Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand.

Back to Contents PRE-EMPLOYMENT TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING FOR PRE-SCHOOL STAFF

53 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what are the courses of action when a potential teacher or staff tests positive for tuberculosis (TB) during pre-employment screening; (b) what are the precautionary measures that affected and non-affected schools or child care centres should take; and (c) what is the potential for TB spreading in schools or child care centres given exposure to an infected person.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: Under the Child Care Centres Regulations, new staff members need to undergo a chest X-ray and be certified to be free from active tuberculosis by a registered medical practitioner before they can start work in centres. Centres are also advised to monitor for any persistent coughing among their staff members and children to allow for early diagnosis and treatment. Child care centres are required by law to immediately report any known or suspected tuberculosis cases to parents of all children enrolled in their child care centre, a health officer, and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). Similar precautionary measures are implemented in schools, which are required to pre-screen their staff before they start work, and report known tuberculosis cases to the Ministry of Education (MOE). Upon diagnosing a case of active tuberculosis, the Tuberculosis Control Unit conducts free contact tracing among children and staff members to identify those at risk of contracting tuberculosis. These individuals will then be offered free tuberculosis screening. The Ministry of Health also notifies ECDA and MOE of cases in child care centres and schools respectively. Meanwhile, staff members who test positive for active tuberculosis are not permitted to enter the child care centre or school until they are certified to be fit for return by a registered medical practitioner. Child care centres and schools can continue operations as long as they exclude persons who show symptoms of tuberculosis, such as persistent coughing, from their centres. Persons without symptoms do not pose further risk of infection to others. Most persons with the latent form of tuberculosis also do not develop the infectious form. Furthermore, persons with active tuberculosis rapidly become non-infectious once they start their treatment. In

any case, persons with symptoms cannot transmit the disease through activities, such as sharing utensils or hand shaking. Transmission is limited to close and prolonged contact with persons showing symptoms of tuberculosis. Child care centres and schools generally abide by the precautionary measures and regulatory safeguards. They also work closely with the Tuberculosis Control Unit, and ECDA or MOE to ensure the safety of children. Back to Contents NUISANCE POSED BY CHIRONOMIDS FROM PANDAN RESERVOIR

54 Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what additional measures will the Ministry implement to mitigate the nuisance posed by chironomids from the Pandan Reservoir; and (b) how can residents living in the vicinity be updated on these actions and measures taken by PUB.

Mr B M M: Chironomids or non-biting midges are a type of flying insects that thrive near water bodies such as canals, ponds and reservoirs. They are a natural part of the aquatic ecosystem and are food for fishes and birds. While they neither bite human beings nor spread any disease, they can pose nuisance when they swarm in large numbers. In recent months, PUB has observed an increase in the emergence of chironomids around the HDB blocks near Pandan Reservoir, largely due to the intermittent hot and wet weather. PUB has been actively monitoring the chironomid population and has stepped up measures to control the population and reduce inconvenience to nearby residents. These include regular removal of chironomid eggs from the reservoir’s floating structures; increasing the frequency and dosage of the application of biological liquid larvicide Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) from three times to five times per week along the reservoir perimeter to kill chironomid larvae; and increasing the frequency of fogging and misting around the reservoir dyke and surrounding vegetation to kill adult chironomids. In addition, PUB has installed bright spotlights at the Pandan Reservoir pumping station and turned them on at night to attract the adult chironomids and deter them from flying into nearby residential areas. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and adjust our measures accordingly. To keep residents living in the vicinity of Pandan Reservoir informed of the chironomid

situation, PUB has recently issued a joint advisory with NEA and the West Coast Town Council on the measures taken by the agencies and actions residents can take within their premises. PUB also conducted a dialogue session with the residents on 28 August 2016 to address their concerns. Educational brochures have also been distributed to the residents around Pandan Reservoir. I would like to assure members and the residents that PUB will continue to put in their best efforts to reduce the inconvenience caused by chironomids. Having said that, we may not be able to completely eradicate the chironomids, as they are a part of the natural aquatic ecosystem. Therefore, we also seek residents’ understanding and tolerance, should they find these harmless chironomids in their homes. Back to Contents REVIEWING PROVISION OF PLASTIC BAGS AT RETAIL SHOPS

55 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether the Government will consider prohibiting shops, supermarkets and sales outlets from providing free plastic bags in order to minimise their usage and reduce the harmful impact they have on our environment.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Plastic bags are of particular concern in countries where waste is landfilled, resulting in the plastic bags remaining in the landfill for a long time, or finding their way into water bodies or the sea, affecting marine life and food sources. In Singapore, this effect is minimised as all incinerable waste, including plastic bags, are incinerated safely at our waste-to-energy plants before they are landfilled as ash. Notwithstanding this, my Ministry upholds the approach of avoiding excessive consumption of plastic bags to reduce waste generation and carbon emissions. We encourage shoppers to take only what plastic bags they need and to re-use them to bag household trash. We also encourage the habitual use of reusable bags as much as possible. Stakeholders such as retailers also play a role in encouraging and educating consumers to bring their own bags and reduce the use of plastic bags. One example is IKEA which does not provide free disposable plastic bags for its shoppers. My Ministry will continue to look into additional ways to reduce the excessive consumption of plastic bags. Last month, the National Environment Agency called for a tender to

study how different types of single-use carriers compare in terms of cost and impact on the environment. The study will better inform our policies on how to guide the use of different types of bags in future. Back to Contents COACHING RESEARCHERS TO HELP THEM RELATE BETTER TO BUSINESS NEEDS

56 Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) whether research scientists and engineers from public research institutes can be trained and coached to improve their presentation and communication skills so that they can relate better to the business needs and thinking of SMEs.

Mr S Iswaran: SMEs are important to Singapore’s economy, comprising 99% of enterprises and employing 70% of Singapore’s workforce. Government is committed to helping our SMEs tap on innovation and technology to optimise business processes, improve productivity and enhance competitiveness. SMEs are able to gain access to research expertise and advice at the public research institutions through programmes such as GET-Up, which provides secondment of research scientists and engineers (RSEs) to SMEs, technical advice, and operation and technology road-mapping (OTR) services. To help researchers improve their communication skills, A*STAR organises regular training sessions and master classes on science communication and presentations. More than 600 researchers have attended these sessions since their inception in March 2015. A*STAR also has a team of technology transfer and industry development professionals who link companies to relevant technologies that meet their business needs. In particular, A*STAR has established an SME Office to proactively reach out to SMEs. These efforts have resulted in deeper and broader engagement between A*STAR’s research institutes and our SMEs. Projects with SMEs have increased by 40% from 2011 to reach 737 in 2015. Under GET-Up, A*STAR has seconded 657 RSEs to 356 SMEs, appointed 148 technical advisors to 100 SMEs and conducted 227 OTR projects for 194 SMEs as of 31 July 2016. Government will continue to help our SMEs to innovate. Our SMEs must also play their part by taking the initiative to tap the capabilities and assistance available in our public sector

research institutes, to develop and deploy technology solutions that can drive their transformation and growth. Back to Contents SAFETY INTERLOCK SYSTEMS AND HEIGHT WARNING DEVICES FOR CRANE BOOMS

58 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Transport whether the Ministry will consider requiring lorries with crane booms to be installed with safety interlock systems and height warning devices which alert the lorry drivers of un-retracted crane booms or which prevent such lorries from being driven on roads until the crane booms are fully retracted.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: We will make it compulsory for all lorries with cranes to install audio warning systems to alert the drivers if their cranes are not retracted before moving off. In addition, we are studying the feasibility of installing safety interlock systems to immobilise the lorry if its crane is not fully stowed. The Land Transport Authority is currently consulting vehicle owners and other industry stakeholders on these proposed measures. We will announce the details prior to implementation. Back to Contents RATIONALE FOR ALTERNATIVE OWNERSHIP MODEL FOR CHANGI AIRPORT TERMINAL 5

59 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport (a) why is there a need for the Ministry to explore alternative ownership models for Changi Airport Terminal 5; (b) what are the lessons learnt from the private public partnership model of the Sports Hub; and (c) whether there is a planned solution should the selected ownership model not work well.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The development of Terminal 5 is a major investment to ensure that Changi Airport continues to remain competitive and serve Singapore’s growing economic and connectivity needs. At full capacity, Terminal 5 will be as large as Terminals 1, 2 and 3 combined. Given the scale of investment needed, the Government set up the Changi Airport Development Fund to help fund the building of Terminal 5. For Terminals 1-4, Singapore’s sole airport operator Changi Airport Group (CAG) is also

the owner. However, there are other leading airports where operation and ownership are separate. MOT and MOF have therefore commissioned a study to determine the ownership model for Terminal 5 following its completion that can best support our objective of maintaining Changi Airport’s position as a leading air hub for the long term. We are not, however, considering a public-private partnership model of co-development. Back to Contents SAFEGUARDS FOR SALE OF FINANCIAL PRODUCTS TO VULNERABLE GROUPS

60 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Prime Minister what are the safeguards that financial advisors must observe when selling financial products to vulnerable groups of people especially the elderly and less educated people.

Mr (for the Prime Minister): MAS shares Mr Sapari’s concern about the need for proper selling procedures when financial advisers (“FAs”) deal with the elderly or vulnerable in our population. Let me explain our current system of safeguards. FAs and their representatives, including FA representatives in banks, are regulated under the Financial Advisers Act. The Act provides for safeguards for investment products sold to any member of the public. It also specifies additional safeguards when dealing with vulnerable customers. First, assessing product suitability. Before an investment product can be marketed to customers, FAs are required to assess the nature of the product and identify the customer segments for which it is suitable. The FAs are then required to ensure that their representatives bear in mind which products are suitable for each of the customers they deal with. Second, information disclosure. FA representatives must disclose to customers material information on a product, especially the potential risks and benefits, and all applicable fees and charges. Such disclosures must be clearly communicated to customers to enable them to make informed investment decisions. It is an offence under the Act for FA representatives to omit or make false or misleading disclosures to customers. Third, additional supervisory checks within an FA. Before a sale can be completed, supervisors of FA representatives are required to check their recommendations to ensure that the advisory process has been properly conducted, and that the products recommended are suitable

for customers. For vulnerable customers with limited knowledge of investment products, supervisors of FA representatives are required to take the additional step of calling the customers before the transaction can be executed. If the product is a complex one, the FA’s senior management must confirm with the customer that he or she has been properly informed of the risks of proceeding with the investment. Such follow-ups also serve as an additional opportunity for vulnerable customers to state if they wish to proceed with their transactions, having understood the risks of the products. But it is not just about what is provided under the law. Over the past few years, some FAs have made efforts to strengthen their advisory and sales processes beyond what is required under the law. For example, the forms and sales documents used by some FAs are available in different languages to help customers who are not well-versed in English. FAs also encourage vulnerable customers to bring along a relative or friend whom they trust and who is able to explain to them what is being presented by the representative. Some FAs have made it mandatory for their representatives to seek senior management’s approval for all transactions entered into by vulnerable customers even where the product is not complex. While the industry has made positive strides over the past few years, we need to continue raising the bar. MAS will continue to work with the industry to improve the quality of advice and competencies of FA representatives. We will also share common observations and weaknesses from our supervisory reviews, and spread best practices that go beyond strict regulatory requirements. Back to Contents FREEZING OF EGGS OF HEALTHY WOMEN FOR FUTURE USE

62 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Health in view of the increasing number of women getting married later in life or delay in starting a family, whether the Ministry will consider allowing all healthy women to freeze their eggs so that they will have more opportunities to have healthier children later.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Licensed Assisted Reproduction (AR) Centres in Singapore are allowed to carry out egg freezing in cases where there are medical needs. For example, some women need to undergo medical treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy that will

adversely affect their fertility. Egg freezing carries some risks to the woman. (a) The process of stimulating production and collecting a woman’s eggs for freezing can result in complications such as over-stimulation of the ovaries, bleeding and infection. (b) The risks of developing certain age-related complications during pregnancy are not mitigated by egg freezing. For example, pregnancy-related diabetes and hypertension occurs more frequently in women above 40 years of age. For pregnancy-related diabetes, the risk can be up to 74 % higher for mothers above 40 years of age, compared with mothers below 30 years of age2. In addition, such diseases also impact the growth and development of the unborn child. (c) There is limited information on the long term outcomes of children born from eggs that have been frozen for extended periods. To date, no long term follow-up of these children has been published3. Medically, these issues can be addressed by regulation, as well as enhanced public education and counselling to potential users. However, this issue cannot be decided purely on medical considerations. There are also social and ethical implications that need to be considered carefully. The expectation that egg-freezing guarantees fertility preservation might not be met, thus resulting in greater disappointment for couples who delay marriage and parenthood4 and yet are later not able to conceive using this method. They will be left with few alternatives then. It also introduces questions about the treatment of unused eggs, including whether these eggs can be used for other purposes. Ultimately, egg freezing, like all other assisted reproduction techniques, is not a guaranteed solution or a panacea to delayed marriages and parenthood. Age-related fertility problems affect both men and women, and there is no better substitute to having healthy children than when couples are relatively young and healthy. Hence, social egg freezing is currently not allowed. However, we will continue to monitor international developments in the field of social egg freezing and will review our position taking

2See paper on ‘Pregnancy and Obstetrical Outcomes in Women Over 40 Years of Age’, 2015 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4554509/) 3See paper on ‘Oocyte cryopreservation: where are we now?, 2016 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27006004) 4See report published by the Bioethics Legal Research in Singapore (BELRIS) group, ‘Report – Survey Conducted to Evaluate the Position on Elective Oocyte Freezing in Singapore’, dated 9 April 2013 (http://belris.sg/2014/06/15/draft-report/).

into account the medical and social implications of egg-freezing, as well as prevailing societal norms and values. Back to Contents PROPOSAL FOR SPECIAL ONE-OFF PUBLIC HOLIDAY TO CELEBRATE SINGAPORE'S FIRST OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL

63 Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Manpower if will explain the criteria for the declaration of a public holiday and whether the Government will consider declaring a special one-off public holiday to celebrate the first-time win of an Olympic gold medal in Singapore's history.

Mr Lim Swee Say: There are 11 days5 declared as public holidays under the Holidays Act. These were chosen in close consultation with the major religious groups to commemorate various religious and cultural festivals as well as to celebrate New Year’s Day and National Day. Under the Holidays Act, the President may declare a one-off public holiday in addition to the 11 days of public holidays. However, such one-off holidays are to be considered very carefully, as this has implications on public services, businesses and schools. To date, this has been done only once when the President declared 7 August 2015 as a public holiday in celebration of SG50. This was to commemorate a special milestone in our nation’s history. Joseph Schooling’s historic achievement of a Gold medal and an Olympic record in the Men’s 100-metre Butterfly event at the Rio Olympics was a defining moment in Singapore’s history that has created a new mindset in all Singaporeans, enabling us to believe that in spite of our small size as a nation, that nothing is impossible and we are all capable of achieving great things. Singapore celebrated Joseph Schooling’s victory as a nation, not by having a one-off public holiday, but by highlighting the significance of Singapore’s first Olympic gold with a victory parade, a Parliamentary motion congratulating him on his victory, as well as mention by Prime Minister at the recent National Day Rally. We believe these are appropriate and meaningful ways of celebrating a great achievement that has captured the imagination of the public, inspired our nation and instilled immense pride in all Singaporeans.

5The 11 public holidays are New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year (2 days), Good Friday, Labour Day, Vesak Day, Hari Raya Puasa, National Day, Hari Raya Haji, Deepavali, Christmas Day.

The Olympics and Paralympics are the pinnacle of international sporting competitions. While we celebrate Joseph Schooling’s achievement, we are proud of all our Team Singapore Olympians and Paralympians who represent Singapore, and with whom we celebrate the achievements. Back to Contents UNJUST TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT FOR EMPLOYEES DIAGNOSED WITH TUBERCULOSIS

64 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Manpower what measures are put in place to protect employees diagnosed with tuberculosis from unjust termination of employment.

Mr Lim Swee Say: Under the Employment Act and the Industrial Relations Act, employees and union members in unionised companies respectively, can appeal to MOM for reinstatement if they have been unfairly dismissed. Employees suspected with tuberculosis should seek treatment early and declare their condition to their employer. This will allow appropriate public health measures to be implemented swiftly, and minimise the risk of transmission of tuberculosis at the workplace and to the public. In instances where employees have been diagnosed with tuberculosis, employers should treat their employees fairly and with compassion. This will also encourage employees who may have contracted tuberculosis, or any other infectious disease, to seek treatment early. Employees too, should be responsible and adhere to the treatment regime for tuberculosis so that they do not suffer a relapse and spread the infection. According to international guidelines, with treatment, employees with tuberculosis can become medically fit for work within two weeks and will not spread the infection to their colleagues or customers at the workplace. Employees who feel they have been unfairly dismissed can approach MOM for assistance. Back to Contents FINANCIAL DEFICITS IN HDB CAR PARK OPERATIONS

65 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for National Development (a) what are the reasons and projected cost breakdown for the sharp worsening of the fiscal position

from a $19 million surplus to a $80 million deficit this year and a $100 million deficit next year in the operation of HDB car parks; (b) what is the estimated cost savings in outsourcing the operation of Electronic Parking System residential car parks to commercial operators; (c) what is the current percentage utilisation of HDB car park spaces; and (d) whether further cost savings can be achieved through a recalibration of the number of car park spaces to match utilisation rates.

Mr Lawrence Wong: While car park charges have remained constant for the last 14 years, costs have increased over this same period. Since 2002, core-inflation has risen by about 30%. The total costs of building, operating and maintaining HDB residential car parks have increased even more, by a total of about 40%. These costs have gone up, even with the implementation of the Electronic Parking System (EPS). With automation provided by EPS, HDB is able to save about 25% mainly on daily operating costs such as enforcement, attending to feedback and enquiries, as well as collection of parking charges. But the bulk of the cost of residential car parks comes from building and maintenance works. Hence, the savings from EPS are not sufficient to outweigh the other cost increases due to: (a) Rising costs to construct new car parks; (b) Cyclical improvements, as well as additional repair & redecoration (R&R) works required to maintain an increasing number of ageing car parks; and (c) More capital expenditures in new and existing HDB car parks, such as installation of lifts and roof-shelters at multi-storey car parks and their maintenance costs. This is why there is a worsening of the fiscal position. If we had not made revisions to car park charges, HDB would incur an $80 million deficit this year, and an estimated $100 million deficit from next year till at least 2020. Even with the latest increase in fees, HDB expects to continue running a deficit in the coming years. Currently, HDB car parks are generally well-utilised. The season parking take-up rates do vary from location to location, but on average, it is above 70% across all the HDB car parks island-wide. From experience, this is manageable take-up rate, with the remaining capacity made available for visitor parking. HDB periodically reviews parking provision to ensure that it remains relevant to meet

residents’ parking needs. There will not be much cost savings by reducing parking spaces in existing car parks, as the cost of constructing them has already been expended, that is, sunk cost. However, where feasible and appropriate, HDB has in the past converted car park lots to other uses, such as social communal facilities. Back to Contents FORMULA USED IN DERIVING NEW PUBLIC PARKING RATES

66 Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for National Development how is the new public parking rate with effect from 1 December 2016 tabulated and derived.

Mr Lawrence Wong: In determining public car parking charges, the key principle is that car owners bear the full cost of ownership and usage of cars. This includes the cost of parking cars. Hence parking charges in our HDB estates are sized to cover the cost of building, operating and maintaining residential car parks. It would not be equitable for the Government to subsidise the cost of parking, as this would mean that non-car owners are subsidising car owners. Today, about 3 in 10 HDB households own cars, that is, the majority of our residents do not own cars6. While car park charges have remained constant for the last 14 years, costs have increased over this same period. Since 2002, core-inflation has risen by about 30%. The total costs of building, operating and maintaining HDB residential car parks have increased even more, by a total of about 40%. In reviewing the parking rates, we have also differentiated the HDB season parking charges such that residents pay a lower season parking rate for their first car. Season parking rates for subsequent cars, or non-residents who use HDB car parks, are set at a higher charge to reflect the full cost recovery rate. Back to Contents PROTECTION FOR FOREIGN SPOUSES AND CHILDREN WHEN MARRIAGES WITH SINGAPORE CITIZENS BREAK DOWN

67 Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how does the state protect the welfare of Singaporean/PR children in a situation of family breakdown

6Based on HDB Sample Household Survey 2013, 32.8% of HDB households own cars.

where a citizen father rejects responsibility for them and the foreign mother must either abandon them or take them out of Singapore because her residency and working rights all depended on her spouse; and (b) what assistance is provided for Singaporean/PR dependents in such families who have to do National Service but are unable to support themselves.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: Safeguarding the welfare of our children in a family breakdown is paramount. This is especially so when the family circumstances render the child more vulnerable, such as those which Ms Kuik has raised. Parents (fathers and mothers) have a joint duty, under law, to maintain and provide for their children. This duty subsists until the child has at least attained the age of 21 years. In situations of family breakdown, both parents still have a duty to provide for their children. If the mother is the parent who has care of the child, and the father is not providing for their child, the mother can apply for maintenance on behalf of the child. This is the case, even if the mother is not a Singaporean/PR. For divorcing parties, the Divorce Support Specialist Agencies will provide counselling support and help to address the immediate needs of the parties and their children. After the divorce, the Divorce Support Specialist Agencies may refer the family to a Family Service Centre for continued monitoring. For families who are financially in need, the Government provides a range of financial assistance and social services. The assistance is also available to low-income single parents from transnational families, and dependents of single breadwinners serving NS. These families can approach the Social Service Offices (or SSOs) for an assessment of their needs. The SSOs will work closely with other Government agencies and Family Service Centres to provide and coordinate other forms of assistance and socio-emotional support, if so required. Children in our schools can receive help from the Ministry of Education for free textbooks and uniforms as well as to pay their school fees. For those in National Service, full-time national servicemen (NSFs) are given a monthly allowance to support their basic expenses. Financial assistance schemes are also available to NSFs whose families face financial hardship. For foreign wives who are widowed or divorced and have sole custody of young Singaporean children, ICA would generally facilitate their continued stay in Singapore through a

renewable LTVP. This would enable them to care for and raise their Singaporean children here. Back to Contents PROVISION OF RECYCLING BINS IN SCHOOLS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

69 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether the Ministry will consider the provision of recycling bins separating paper, plastics, glass and metals in the common areas and canteens of schools so as to cultivate the sense of environmental responsibility in our students.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: My Ministry launched the Schools Recycling Corner Programme in 2002, which involves setting up recycling corners in schools, as part of our efforts to nurture a sense of environmental responsibility in our students. The public waste collectors provide co-mingled recycling bins at these recycling corners, which is consistent with the National Recycling Programme (NRP). We have adopted the co-mingled recycling approach as this makes it easier for residents to practise recycling and also makes the collection of recyclables more cost-effective. Co-mingled recycling is practised in various US cities as well as in parts of Europe and Australia. At the school recycling corners, educational materials are also made available to raise awareness of waste minimisation and recycling. Since 2009, all primary and secondary schools, as well as junior colleges, have implemented recycling programmes on their premises. Other programmes to cultivate environmental responsibility in our students include the “Preschool 3R Awareness Kit” to help kindergarten teachers plan activities for preschoolers, and the “Youth for the Environment Day”, a platform for youth to lead and participate in environmental activities. Schools are also recognised for their environmental efforts through the “3R Awards” and the “President’s Award for the Environment” which is the highest accolade for environmental champions. My Ministry also facilitates educational visits to recycling facilities, incineration plants and the Semakau Landfill. These visits allow students to observe the large amount of waste disposed of every day and better understand the problems which Singapore faces if we do not practise the 3Rs. My Ministry will continue to review our efforts to provide our young people with

opportunities to contribute to our 3R efforts. We hope that our various stakeholders would continue to partner us and support our efforts. Back to Contents POSSIBILITY OF FARE REDUCTION WITH NEW OPERATING MODELS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT

70 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether the Public Transport Council (PTC) will consider a reduction of public transport fares in the next annual fare review; and (b) whether there will be a review of the fare formula in view of the recent changes to the operating models of public transport.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Based on the fare formula, I expect the Public Transport Council, or PTC, to consider a maximum fare reduction of 5.7% for the upcoming fare exercise. This fare reduction quantum is due to the sharp fall in energy prices over the last year. However, we should note that energy prices can be volatile and may rebound sharply in the following years. The current fare formula, which was introduced in 2013, is valid for five years including for the 2017 fare exercise. It will be reviewed before its expiry next year. I do not wish to pre-judge PTC’s future deliberations on this. However, I think we should keep in mind that in response to higher commuter expectations, the Government has been rapidly expanding our rail network and injecting more buses and trains into the system, and also making costly improvements through restructuring the bus and rail industries. While these initiatives have improved our public transport system significantly, they have and will continue to increase the extent of government subsidies in public transport. For instance, under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme, the Government has committed $1.1 billion over five years. Under bus contracting, the Government will be subsidising about $3.5 to $4 billion in the next five years. Similarly, on the rail side, due to the Government taking over ownership of the operating assets under the New Rail Financing Model, the Government expects to spend over $4 billion on renewing, upgrading and expanding operating assets for the next five years. These will be on top of the $20 billion that the Government has committed to spend on building new rail lines in the same period. We are also requiring the rail operators to invest more heavily in maintenance to raise our rail reliability substantially. In many major cities, public transport is subsidised. However, we need to guard against it

becoming an excessive fiscal burden. The new fare formula will have to strike a balance between fiscal prudence and ensuring that fares continue to remain affordable. Back to Contents USE OF CPF SAVINGS FOR HOUSING LOAN FOR FLATS WITH LESS THAN 60 YEARS LEASE

72 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what measures are in place to ensure that potential property buyers are informed of the limitations on the use of CPF savings when taking a housing loan for flats with a remaining lease of less than 60 years; and (b) what recourse do buyers have if they commit to buying such flats and subsequently find that they are unable to pay for the flats in cash.

Mr Lim Swee Say: The limitations on the use of CPF savings for HDB flats and private properties with a balance lease of less than 60 years were put in place to protect the recoverable value of CPF savings used for housing purchases. The Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) have put in place several measures to inform and advise prospective flat buyers on these CPF limitations. CPF Board’s website provides an online calculator, e-brochure, and a set of ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ to help prospective property buyers compute the maximum amount of CPF savings that they can use for shorter lease properties. They can also approach CPF Board for this information. For prospective buyers purchasing flats directly from HDB, HDB provides them with a Financial Plan during the flat selection process. This Financial Plan also explains the CPF withdrawal limits for flats with balance leases of less than 60 years, which are sold under HDB’s Sale of Balance Flats exercises, if any. For prospective buyers purchasing resale flats in the open market, they are required by HDB to complete and submit a ‘Resale Checklist’ which highlights the need to check the balance lease of the flat, and which informs them that there may be limits on the use of CPF savings for shorter lease flats. Those who choose to engage the services of a salesperson can consult the salesperson on the relevant rules and procedures governing the use of CPF funds. The HDB website also highlights these CPF limitations as part of their e-resources on

financial planning. For individuals who have purchased shorter lease flats and subsequently face short term financial difficulty in servicing their remaining HDB housing loan in cash, HDB may assist deserving cases temporarily with their instalment payment and loan arrears on a case-by-case basis. Back to Contents PURCHASE OF SECOND PROPERTY FOR HDB FLAT AND PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS

73 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for National Development what is the rationale for allowing eligible HDB flat owners to purchase a private property without having to sell their current HDB flat but not allowing private home owners to buy a HDB flat from the open market without them selling their private property within six months.

Mr Lawrence Wong: HDB flats are meant for owner-occupation. To reinforce this principle, HDB flat owners are not allowed to buy a private residential property during the initial five-year minimum occupation period (MOP). Likewise, private residential property owners who choose to buy a resale flat are also subject to the same MOP condition. Hence, they cannot own a private property during the five- year MOP, and are required to dispose of their private property within six months from the date of the resale flat purchase. This also dampens the demand for resale flats from buyers with no urgent need of housing. Both HDB flat and private property owners are thus treated the same – they are not allowed to own a private residential property during the five-year MOP of the HDB flat. Conversely, after fulfilling the five-year MOP, all HDB flat owners, including those who had previously owned private properties, are allowed to buy private property. Back to Contents COMPLAINTS OF FOUL SMELL DURING RUBBISH COLLECTIONS

74 Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for National Development (a) for the past three years, how many complaints has HDB received from residents on foul odours emitted during rubbish chute collections; (b) how have these complaints been resolved; and (c) what plans are

there to introduce the Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System to Sembawang GRC.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Town Councils (TCs) manage and maintain the common areas in HDB estates, including rubbish chutes. If there is any feedback on foul odours emitted during refuse collection, HDB would generally refer them to TCs for their follow-up. However, HDB has not received such feedback over the past three years. While it is inevitable that some odour may be emitted during the refuse collection process, TCs take care to minimise dis-amenity to residents. For example, the rubbish bin chutes and central refuse chute are washed on a regular basis, and after each collection. Once the collection at the central refuse chute is completed, the surrounding areas would be cleaned and the roller door shut, to minimise odours being emitted. TCs also remind their conservancy workers to cover the rubbish bins while they are being transported. HDB has implemented the Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System (PWCS) in selected new HDB developments where feasible, including North, , Bidadari and Sengkang. HDB will be studying the feasibility of implementing PWCS in other new housing estates. For existing estates, implementing PWCS is more challenging and expensive as it involves carrying out services diversion and extensive excavation works to lay the underground pipes in built-up areas. HDB will have to assess the performance of the PWCS currently test-bedded in Yuhua, before deciding whether to roll out the PWCS in other existing estates. Back to Contents LEGAL AND POLICY DISTINCTION BETWEEN LEGITIMATE AND ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN

76 Mr Kok Heng Leun asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) which are the areas in law, policy and decision-making by Government agencies and schools, that make a distinction between "legitimate" and "illegitimate" children; and (b) what are the differences in outcomes for "legitimate" and "illegitimate" children and their parents in each of these areas.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: Government benefits that support the growth and development of children are given to all Singaporean children, regardless of their legitimacy status. All Singaporean children have access to social assistance, education and healthcare subsidies, as well as infant care and child care subsidies. Children of unwed parents born from 1 September 2016

are also now eligible for Child Development Account (CDA) benefits. This further supports unwed parents’ efforts to care for their child, and enhance the child outcomes. A child’s right to be maintained by his or her parent is also laid out in the Women’s Charter. Under the Charter, parents are obliged to provide accommodation, clothing, food and education to their children, taking into account their means and regardless of the child’s legitimacy status. Having said that, an illegitimate child will not acquire citizenship by birth if his mother is not a citizen of Singapore. He will not be eligible for the Baby Bonus cash gift and his mother cannot enjoy tax reliefs which are provided in respect of children born within marriage. In the area of inheritance, an illegitimate child would inherit a part or the whole of his mother’s estate if the mother dies intestate with no surviving legitimate children. Similarly, the mother would inherit a part or the whole of her illegitimate child’s estate if she is living when the child dies intestate. Parents who want to leave something for their illegitimate child should make a Will. Where benefits or laws differentiate on legitimacy status, they reflect the Government’s desire to promote strong marriages. Parenthood within marriage is the desired and prevailing social norm, which we want to continue to promote as this is key to having strong families. Back to Contents LIST OF REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WHO ARE LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY CERTIFICATE ISSUERS

77 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry will consider publicising the list of registered medical practitioners who are certificate issuers of a Lasting Power of Attorney in each neighbourhood for the convenience of residents particularly senior citizens.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: A Lasting Power of Attorney (or LPA) is a legal document which allows a person who is at least 21 years of age (a 'donor'), to voluntarily appoint another person (a ‘donee’) to make decisions on his behalf when he loses mental capacity. When completing a LPA, the LPA Form must be witnessed and certified by an LPA Certificate Issuer. The purpose of the Certificate Issuer is to certify that the donor understands the purpose of the LPA and the scope of the authority conferred under it, as well as ensure that there is no fraud or undue pressure used to induce the donor to create an LPA. A Certificate Issuer can be any one of the

following professionals in Singapore, namely a medical practitioner accredited by the Public Guardian, a practising Singapore qualified lawyer, or a registered psychiatrist. As of 31 August 2016, there are 364 medical practitioners accredited as Certificate Issuers. The list of accredited medical practitioners can be found on the Office of the Public Guardian’s (or OPG) website, www.publicguardian.gov.sg. This includes the addresses and contact numbers of their clinics. We recently introduced an updated list which categorises the Certificate Issuers based on the geographic location of their clinics, for easier search of a Certificate Issuer. In addition, the public can call in to the OPG helpline for assistance on identifying the accredited doctors in their vicinity. Currently, all accredited doctors are issued with an accreditation letter informing them of their appointment as well as an “LPA Accredited Certificate Issuer” decal. These accredited doctors are encouraged to display the decal at their clinic, as this will serve to increase the visibility of Certificate Issuers around the various neighbourhoods. Back to Contents WORKPLACE SAFETY FOR FEMALE EMPLOYEES OF CHILD-BEARING AGE

78 Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Manpower with regard to female employees of childbearing age, including pregnant or breastfeeding mothers (a) whether special emphasis can be made in the Workplace Safety and Health Act to ensure that companies consider the safety of these employees at the workplace when conducting risk assessment; (b) whether the Approved Code of Practice on Workplace Safety and Health Risk Management can be further strengthened to safeguard them from risks that may arise from working conditions or physical, biological, psychological or chemical agents; and (c) whether the law can provide for suitable alternative jobs for them where their workplace safety and health cannot be satisfactorily managed.

Mr Lim Swee Say: Ensuring workplace safety and health is an important priority for MOM. The Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act sets the legal framework for the regulation of WSH in Singapore. It is supported by Approved Codes of Practice that set the expected minimum standards and WSH Guidelines that recommend measures to address specific risks. Currently the Act already requires companies to take reasonably practicable measures to ensure

the health and safety of all persons at the workplace. Section 4(2)(b) of the WSH Act also provides that “any reference to the health of a person shall, where that person is pregnant, include a reference to the health of any unborn child that the person is carrying”. The Approved Code of Practice on WSH Risk Management was introduced in 2011 to establish standards that companies are expected to adopt when managing workplace risks. It was enhanced in 2015 to require employers to consider individual health risk factors. This change means that if there are special risks to female employees of childbearing age, including pregnant or lactating mothers, reasonable risk mitigation measures must be put in place. WSH Guidelines were also developed to deal with more specific situations. For example, the WSH Guideline on Statutory Medical Examinations recommends that pregnant and lactating employees not be assigned jobs with exposure to certain hazards like lead, arsenic and benzene. The Act expects employers to take reasonably practicable measures to eliminate or mitigate risks for pregnant and lactating employees by providing adequate arrangement for their welfare at work. Hence, employers should consider providing alternative job assignments where appropriate. MOM requires employers to provide safe and healthy workplaces for all employees, including pregnant and lactating employees. MOM will take actions against employers who fail to do so. Back to Contents RECOGNITION OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS

79 Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry can consider implementing guidelines or legislation to formally recognise medical certificates issued by registered Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners especially for certain ailments such as sprains, back pain, and torn muscles.

Mr Lim Swee Say: Under the Employment Act, all employers are required to grant paid sick leave to employees with Medical Certificates (MCs) issued by a Government medical officer. In addition, employers are also required to grant paid sick leave for MCs issued by private medical practitioners who are registered under the Medical Registration Act (MRA) and are appointed by the company.

Some employers, including the Public Service, go beyond the requirements of the Employment Act to grant paid sick leave for MCs issued by private medical practitioners other than those appointed by the company. There were almost 4,000 private medical practitioners registered under the MRA in 2015. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners can also be registered, subject to approval by the Singapore Medical Council. Back to Contents HDB'S MECHANISED PARKING SYSTEM AT THREE SITES

81 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for National Development in respect of HDB's Mechanised Parking System (MPS) at the three MPS sites in Changi Village, Bangkit Road and Ave 4 respectively (a) what are the utilisation rates of these carparks; (b) how long does a driver have to wait to retrieve the car during peak and non-peak periods; and (c) what are the breakdown rates of each MPS and maintenance costs involved.

Mr Lawrence Wong: The average utilisation rate for HDB’s Mechanised Parking System (MPS) at the three sites during peak period is about 80%. Based on HDB’s parking records, motorists took an average of five minutes to park or retrieve their vehicles during off-peak periods. The time taken for peak period parking or retrieval varies between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on the number of vehicles in the queue. This compares favourably with the parking situation prior to the implementation of MPS. For example, at Changi Village, motorists used to take more than 30 minutes to queue and find a parking lot during peak periods. Like all new mechanical systems, the MPS requires a run-in period where minor glitches are experienced and fine-tuning of the system is necessary. But if we look over the past six months, out of about 54,000 parking transactions, the breakdown rate is a low 0.02% (or 11 incidences in all). These arose mainly due to user-related issues, such as motorists forgetting to apply their parking brakes. The maintenance cost per MPS lot ranges from $60 to $100 per month. Back to Contents

UPDATE ON ISKANDAR MALAYSIA PROJECT

82 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development in light of Singapore being Co-Chair of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (a) whether he can provide an update on the Iskandar Malaysia project in Johor; (b) whether the lower ringgit has made more Singaporeans invest in properties there especially in the Forest City project; and (c) whether a property bubble is forming in Iskandar Malaysia and what are the safeguards to protect Singaporeans from being caught.

Mr Lawrence Wong: This year marks the 10th year of collaboration between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia since the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia was set up in 2007. Over this decade, Iskandar Malaysia has continued to develop its infrastructure and economy, and attracted new investments including from Singapore. In the residential property segment, however, the lower ringgit has not resulted in more Singaporean purchases of properties in Iskandar Malaysia. As I shared with this House last year, investors are concerned about the over-supply of residential properties in Iskandar Malaysia and Johor, which can result in a potential decline in property values. Based on data from Malaysia’s National Property Information Centre, there are around 351,000 new residential homes in Johor in the pipeline as of end-2015. This amounts to almost half of the current housing stock of 731,000 units in Johor. As a result, buyers are becoming more cautious. Last year I updated that the purchases of Malaysian properties through real estate agencies in Singapore have fallen from 2609 transactions in 2013 to 838 in 2014. Since then, the figure has continued to drop to 241 in 2015, even as the Malaysian ringgit depreciated further against the Singapore dollar. Official Malaysian data also suggests that the Johor housing market is continuing to slow further, with the value of residential property transactions falling by about 30% in 2015 compared to 2014. There are many risks involved in overseas property purchases. These include the risk of housing over-supply, foreign exchange risks, as well as tax and regulatory frameworks which can easily change against the investors’ favour. The Council of Estate Agents (CEA) has stepped up efforts in raising awareness and highlighting these risks over the past few years. CEA has come up with a checklist and guidelines to educate the public on what to look out for purchase of overseas properties. I strongly encourage Singaporeans to go through the checklist which is

available on CEA’s website before deciding on any overseas property purchase. Back to Contents

Office of the Clerk of Parliament Singapore, 13 September 2016