ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF

SECOND SESSION

ORDER PAPER

MONDAY, 11TH APRIL, 2011

No. 52 1.30 p.m. 302

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER*

*1. Mdm : To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry if he will provide an assessment on the impact of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa on our economy.

*2. Mr Teo Siong Seng: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry whether his Ministry will provide an assessment on the impact of the political turbulence in the Middle East and North Africa and the Japanese nuclear catastrophe on Singapore's economic outlook.

*3. Mdm : To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the current global developments like the nuclear crisis in Japan and unrest in North Africa and the Middle East (a) what is Singapore's projected economic growth for 2011; and (b) how will these developments affect our pace of inflation.

*4. Mdm : To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry with continued high oil prices coupled with the recent disruptions in food supply chains arising from natural disasters (a) what is the Ministry's projection on inflation for Singapore in the next six months; (b) what is the Ministry doing to mitigate the effects of inflation especially on essential foodstuff; and (c) what is the Ministry doing to ensure that Singapore is able to import food produce from alternative sources.

*5. Mr Teo Siong Seng: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the recent Fukushima nuclear fallout, whether his Ministry will provide an update on the status of the feasibility study for nuclear power in Singapore.

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*6. Mr : To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Fukushima nuclear power plant crisis in Japan has derailed the Government's decision to study nuclear energy as an option; and (b) whether the Government has assessed the risks to Singapore if ASEAN countries pursue nuclear energy options.

*7. Mr Michael Palmer: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry in light of the ongoing Fukushima nuclear power plant crisis in Japan (a) whether the Government will reconsider proceeding with a pre- feasibility study for nuclear power in Singapore; and (b) whether the Government will explore other sources of alternative energy instead of nuclear energy.

*8. Mr Michael Palmer: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the assistance that Singapore has rendered to Japan following the recent earthquake, tsunami and ongoing nuclear power plant crisis.

*9. Mdm Halimah Yacob: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what measures are in place to assist cope with the higher cost of electricity; and (b) what will be the impact of rising electricity prices on companies.

*10. Ms : To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether Singapore is prepared for similar major disaster of magnitude and impact as the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan; and (b) besides Total Defence, National Education and the Community Engagement Programme, are there any other plans to foster the calmness and resilience of our people and community for similar major disasters.

*11. Ms Ellen Lee: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs whether there are plans for willing Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) volunteers and National Servicemen to be sent to observe our SAF and SCDF in action in overseas rescue missions so that they can prepare and gain experience in the event of such calamity happening in Singapore.

*12. Mdm Ho Geok Choo: To ask the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what is the impact of Japan's nuclear crisis on Singapore's environment; (b) what is the possibility of air-borne and water-borne radiation permeating our environment; and (c) what steps are in place to ensure that Singapore remains radiation-free.

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*13. Ms : To ask the Prime Minister (a) whether he will provide the rationale for the recent changes to Nomination Day proceedings which were gazetted on 14 March 2011; (b) what criteria will the Returning Officer use to decide if candidates in contested constituencies will be permitted to address their supporters at the Nomination Centre; (c) when and how are candidates to apply for such approval; and (d) how much time will candidates be given to address their supporters.

*14. Mr : To ask the Minister for Transport whether the LTA will consider installing escalators or lifts at pedestrian overhead bridges in estates like Mountbatten and Marine Parade where there is a large proportion of elderly residents.

*15. Mdm Halimah Yacob: To ask the Minister for Transport (a) whether the LTA can install lifts at overhead pedestrian bridges to help the elderly who are not able to climb the stairs to use the bridges to cross the road, especially in the East estate; and (b) whether the LTA has any other solutions to deal with such challenges faced by an ageing population.

*16. Mdm Ho Geok Choo: To ask the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider allowing HDB grants to be applied towards the payment of the cash-over-valuation component of the purchase price of a resale HDB flat.

*17. Mrs Mildred Tan: To ask the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) how much of Singapore's GDP is accounted for by the non-profit sector; (b) what is the rate of growth for this sector over the past 10 years and what is the projected growth; (c) how much of the local workforce is in this sector; (d) what are the types and amounts of capital funding for this sector; and (e) what is the percentage of funding that comes from donations, government funding, and fees collected by these organisations.

*18. Mrs Mildred Tan: To ask the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) how does Singapore compare with other countries in terms of pay in the voluntary sector; (b) what is the range of pay of CEOs and Executive Directors within this sector; and (c) will the Government consider making the pay of these leaders more transparent like those in public listed companies.

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*19. Er : To ask the Minister for Education (a) what are the Ministry's pricing guidelines on the sale of food to students in school canteens; (b) how does the Ministry balance the needs of the students and those of the canteen operators to meet their operating costs; (c) why are schools allowed to operate drinks vending machines which are a direct competition to the canteen stalls.

*20. Ms Audrey Wong Wai Yen: To ask the Minister for Education (a) in the past five years, what are the numbers of students who have taken Art and Music as a subject at GCE 'O' and 'A' levels; (b) how many of these students have chosen to join the teaching profession; and (c) of these students who have joined the teaching profession, how many of them are teaching art and music in our primary and secondary schools.

*21. Mr Lim Biow Chuan: To ask the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether there are any plans to cover up all drains in private estates and, if so, what is the timeline for doing so.

* Members may signify to the Clerk their desire to postpone their Questions to a later sitting day, if their Questions are not reached by the end of Question Time. The forms for postponement of Questions are available at the Chamber entrances. Members are advised to give their notices to the Clerk by 4.30 pm.

ORDERS OF THE DAY AND NOTICE OF MOTION

(Those marked  are Orders of the Day)

 1. Deposit Insurance and Policy Owners' Protection Schemes Bill [Bill No. 10/2011] − () − Second Reading.

 2. Insurance (Amendment) Bill [Bill No. 11/2011] − (Senior Minister) − Second Reading.

 3. Singapore University of Technology and Design Bill [Bill No. 9/2011] − (Minister for Education) − Second Reading.

 4. Conveyancing (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill [Bill No. 12/2011] − (Minister for Law) − Second Reading.

 5. Workplace Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill [Bill No. 13/2011] − (Minister for Manpower) − Second Reading.

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6. Minister for Finance:

SUBSCRIPTION TO ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Asian Development Bank Act (Chapter 15), resolves that the Minister for Finance be authorised to increase, on behalf of the Government, the total subscription of Singapore to the authorised capital stock of the Asian Development Bank by a sum not exceeding two hundred and ninety million and four hundred thousand United States dollars. ______

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

1. Ms Sylvia Lim: To ask the Prime Minister whether polling agents and counting agents for the General Elections are subject to age or other eligibility criteria besides the disqualifications mentioned in section 83 of the Parliamentary Elections Act.

2. Ms Phek Hoong: To ask the Minister for National Development to date, how many HDB flat owners are not covered by the Home Protection Scheme (HPS) and, of that, what percentage is due to their inability to pay the outstanding premiums which caused the HPS to lapse.

PAPERS PRESENTED

2011 Date Presented

Parl. 2 Third Report of the Estimates Committee ..... 14th March, 2011

S. 6 Advice of the Council of Presidential Advisers on the Supply Bill FY 2011 ..... 15th March, 2011

S. 7 Advice of the Council of Presidential Advisers on the Supplementary Supply (FY 2010) Bill ..... 15th March, 2011

S.L. 31 Road Traffic (Electronic Road Pricing System) Rules 2011 ..... 15th March, 2011

S.L. 32 Planning (Development Charges) (Amendment) Rules 2011 ..... 15th March, 2011

No. 52 11 APRIL 2011 307

PAPERS PRESENTED - continued

2011 Date Presented

S.L. 33 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (Licensing of Airport Operators) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 ..... 16th March, 2011

S.L. 34 Parliamentary Elections Act (Amendment of Third Schedule) Order 2011 ..... 16th March, 2011

Pres. Co. 9 Report of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights on the United Nations Personnel Bill [Bill No 4/2011] ..... 23rd March, 2011

Pres. Co. 10 Report of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights on the Environmental Protection and Management Bill [Bill No 5/2011] ..... 23rd March, 2011

Pres. Co. 11 Report of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights on the Children Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill [Bill No 8/2011] ..... 23rd March, 2011

S. 8 Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Annual Report 2010 ..... 24th March, 2011

S. 9 Advice of the Council of Presidential Advisers on the Re-Appointment of Member of Public Service Commission ..... 25th March, 2011

S. 10 Advice of the Council of Presidential Advisers on the Appointment of Acting Attorney-General ..... 31st March, 2011

No. 52 11 APRIL 2011 308

PAPERS PRESENTED - continued

2011 Date Presented

S. 11 Advice of the Council of Presidential Advisers on the Appointment of Managing Director and Other Appointment to the Board of the Monetary Authority of Singapore ..... 31st March, 2011

S.L. 35 Public Utilities (Water Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 ..... 31st March, 2011

S.L. 36 Road Traffic (Amendment) Rules 2011 ..... 4th April, 2011

S.L. 37 Building and Construction Authority (Importer’s Licensing) Regulations 2011 ..... 5th April, 2011