Volume 94 Tuesday No 49 1 August 2017

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS

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

Page 23, 24, 25, 26. Rejection of Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence Applications (Mr , Mr , Mr Pritam Singh, Mr ) 1 27. Withdrawal of NAC Funding to Author of "State of Emergency" (Mr Lip Fong) 2 28. Feasibility of Public-private Partnership for Sports Hub (Mr Ganesh Rajaram ) 3 29. Breakdown of Programmes that Received Public Service Broadcast Funds (Mr Ganesh Rajaram ) 4 30. Impact of Completion of SUTD and MIT Tie-up (Ms ) 4 31. Singaporeans in Key Leadership and Management Positions of Autonomous Universities (Mr Lim Biow Chuan) 5 32. Government Investigation of Encrypted Instant Messaging Apps (Mr ) 6 33. Raising Maximum Penalty for Unattended Bags at MRT Stations (Miss ) 7 34. Impact of Cessation of Sand Import from Cambodia (Mr Pritam Singh) 7 35. Extension of Child Development Account Government Dollar-for-dollar Matching Benefit (Mr ) 8 36. Ban of Smoking at Open Windows of Residential Properties (Mr Gan Thiam Poh) 8 38, 39. Cashback Features in Hire-Purchase Schemes (Mr Chee Keng, Dr ) 9 40. Enforcement Actions against Illegal Sale of Contraband Cigarettes (Mr Gan Thiam Poh) 12 42. Reach and Effectiveness of Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme (Mr ) 11 43. Protection of Public Hospitals against Security Threats (Ms K Thanaletchimi) 14 44. Preparedness of Our Population for Emergency (Er Dr ) 15 45. Proportion of 999 Calls that were Emergencies and Required Police Intervention (Ms ) 17 46. Instructions on Safe Use of Personal Mobility Devices (Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong) 18 47. Percentage of Pro-family and Pro-breast-feeding Companies (Ms K Thanaletchimi) 19 49. Fire Alarms for All HDB Blocks (Mr Kok Kwang) 18 2

50. Infestation of Mayflies in Nee Soon South (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 21 51. Sightings of Crocodiles in Sembawang (Dr ) 20 55. Standard Bar Code Label on Drugs as Safeguard (Ms K Thanaletchimi) 21 57. Use of CPF Funds for Children's Tuition Fees (Mr Zainal Sapari) 21 58. Paid Annual Home Leave for Foreign Domestic Workers (Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang) 22 59. Actions against Short-term Rentals of Homes (Mr Yik Chye) 23 60. Availability of Heavy Vehicle Lots around HDB Towns (Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry) 23 61. Electric Vehicles for Public Transport and Government Agencies (Mr ) 26 62. Checks on Hawkers to Prevent Touting (Ms Joan Pereira) 25 64. Bicycle Location Services for Bike-share Operators (Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye) 25 65. Human Resources Industry's Role in Helping Jobseekers (Mr ) 26 66. Government's Assistance for Developers of Mobile Apps for Foreign Workers (Assoc Prof Pei Siong) 27 68. Review of HDB Blocks in Hougang for Lift Upgrading Programme (Mr ) 28 69. Upgrading Ageing Bus Depots (Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye) 29 70. Parking of Vehicles by Car Rental Companies at Residential Estates (Ms ) 30 71. Joint Effort between SportSG and Football Association of Singapore to Promote Local Football (Mr Ganesh Rajaram ) 30 72. Career Counselling for Polytechnic Students (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 31 73. Index to Track Business Costs by Category (Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry) 31

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REJECTION OF PRIVATE HIRE CAR DRIVER'S VOCATIONAL LICENCE APPLICATIONS

23 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Transport for those whose applications for a Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence have been rejected, whether LTA can reassess their applications to make a more compassionate assessment without compromising the safety and security of commuters.

24 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Transport (a) in the last three years, how many Taxi Driver's Vocational Licences and Bus Driver's Vocational Licences have been granted to applicants who have history of court convictions respectively; and (b) whether LTA will consider granting Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence to applicants with such history of convictions but with proven good track records thereafter.

25 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Transport (a) how many Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licences have been issued up to end-July 2017; (b) how many applications have been rejected; and (c) of the rejected applications, how many have been issued following an appeal.

26 Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Transport what are the reasons for refusing to issue vocational driving licences for taxi drivers and private hire car drivers because the drivers have adverse records which are not related to public safety.

Mr : LTA has received about 47,000 Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence (PDVL) applications, and about 1,600 have been rejected. Applicants are rejected either because they have failed background checks, do not meet the driving experience requirement, or have poor driving records. LTA considers the nature of the offence when assessing applications from ex-offenders for a PDVL. Those who have committed extremely serious offences, such as rape, murder or kidnapping, are barred from obtaining a PDVL for life. Applicants who have committed less serious offences, like theft and cheating, will be barred for a few years from the date of conviction. Other offences which do not pose any threat to commuters, such as forgery, do not attract any debarment. 4

LTA also considers appeals from rejected applicants to see if we can make an exception on a case-by-case basis. Out of 35 appeals considered so far, nine have been accepted. This is similar to how we assess applications for the Taxi Driver's and Bus Driver's Vocational Licences. In the last three years, LTA has granted about 1,500 Taxi Driver's and Bus Driver's Vocational Licences to applicants who have criminal records. This calibrated approach is necessary to strike a balance between giving ex-offenders an opportunity to re-integrate into society while ensuring the safety of passengers. Back to Contents WITHDRAWAL OF NAC FUNDING TO AUTHOR OF "STATE OF EMERGENCY"

27 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) why did the National Arts Council (NAC) withdraw its funding to the author of the book "State of Emergency"; (b) whether the author has failed to comply with any deliverables and, if so, what are the deliverables; and (c) whether the book has failed to comply with any of NAC's requirements and, if so, what is the non-compliance.

Ms Hai Yien: The author received funding under the Creation Grant Scheme in 2010, which supports the incubation of new works. As with all National Arts Council (NAC) Creation grants, artists and arts groups sign an agreement with NAC upon successful application. This agreement sets out the terms and conditions for the grant. Based on these agreed terms, NAC then disburses this grant in stages. In certain cases, NAC may only be able to partially support projects. For instance, when the artist is unable to meet project milestones that include mutually agreed deliverables and timelines; or when the artist is unable to secure copyright and other clearances; or when the work is assessed not to meet NAC's funding requirements. In this case, the project did not meet the funding requirements mutually agreed upon as the content in the book deviated from the original proposal. Members may want to note that the book has been published in Singapore, and is in circulation in bookstores. Beyond grants for specific projects, NAC's support to artists includes facilitating arts housing, professional development, market and audience development, and arts philanthropy. NAC may support an artist or arts group in other areas, even if it is unable to support a specific 5

project. Back to Contents FEASIBILITY OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR SPORTS HUB

28 Mr Ganesh Rajaram asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether the public-private partnership between the Government and the Sports Hub remains viable and sustainable given the recurring concerns over operational, structural and management issues in the past two years; and (b) whether SportSG have officers experienced enough to deal effectively with the consortium managing the Sports Hub.

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Under the Sports Hub public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement, SportsHub Pte Ltd (SHPL) is contracted to design, build, finance and operate the Sports Hub for 25 years. It has delivered a 55,000-seat stadium, 3,000-seat aquatic centre, multi- purpose arena and other facilities. Since the commencement of operations in July 2014, the Sports Hub has played host to major events, including the SEA Games, ASEAN Para Games, National Day Parade, International Champions Cup, HSBC Singapore Rugby 7s and WTA Finals. Given the scale and complexity of the facilities, the project has faced challenges in the first three years of operations. More can and should be done by SHPL to enhance the vibrancy of the Sports Hub, and improve the quality of its calendar of events and programming. As with all major international venues, sustained effort and investment are needed to ensure progress for the project and to build up an exciting events calendar. Sport Singapore (SportSG) is in constant communication with SHPL's management, to ensure that the goals and objectives of the project are met. It has a dedicated team of officers who monitor SHPL's performance closely and holistically. Key members of the team have been involved with the project since its inception, and the team reports directly to the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive of SportSG, who have extensive public sector experience. Like many Singaporeans, we have high expectations for the Sports Hub, and want to see the Sports Hub succeed as the integrated sports and lifestyle destination that we envisioned. The PPP arrangement enables the Government to leverage the international marketing, operations and financing expertise of the private sector partner. Back to Contents 6

BREAKDOWN OF PROGRAMMES THAT RECEIVED PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCAST FUNDS

29 Mr Ganesh Rajaram asked the Minister for Communications and Information in the last financial year, what is the amount of Public Service Broadcast funds given to Mediacorp to finance the various programmes broken down into titles and genres, regardless whether they are produced in-house or are farmed out to independent production companies.

Assoc Prof Dr : I thank Mr Ganesh Rajaram for his question on Public Service Broadcast (PSB) funds. Total PSB funding in FY16 was around $250 million. This supported the development of capabilities, channels and content, including about 3,000 hours of locally-produced PSB TV programmes to cater to the diverse viewing needs of Singaporeans. For content production, about 60% of PSB programme funding went towards current affairs, info-educational programmes and documentaries. The remaining 40% funded entertainment programmes such as local dramas, tele-movies and variety shows. PSB funding was also used to produce local content on digital platforms like Toggle, including shows like 'Yes Mdm' and 'Run Rachael Run', to cater to growing online media consumption. Back to Contents IMPACT OF COMPLETION OF SUTD AND MIT TIE-UP

30 Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) what impact will the completion of the seven-year educational partnership between the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have on SUTD's future enrollment and positioning of the young university.

Mr : When the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) was established, it was envisaged that in time to come, it would graduate from its formal collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After seven years, that time has come, as SUTD gears itself for its next phase of development. This is similar to how the Singapore Management University jumpstarted its development in partnership with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania when it was first formed. 7

Over the past seven years, SUTD has benefitted immensely from its partnership with MIT. SUTD’s structure and curriculum, including 90% of its undergraduate course materials, was designed and co-developed with MIT faculty. These are unique features of SUTD, which MIT would have done if it were to re-design its institutional structure and develop its curriculum all over again. Current and future students will continue to learn using these materials. Through the collaboration, SUTD has received full accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Board for its Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Architecture degree programmes, and it is now fully equipped to provide these programmes independently. Over the same period, SUTD has established itself as a popular choice among students. Applications have increased over the years, from 2,144 in 2013 to 3,503 this year – a 63% increase. Admissions have also increased by 69% over the same period, from 251 to 424. SUTD graduates are also well-endorsed by employers. As reported in the 2015 and 2016 Graduate Employment Surveys, more than 90% of its graduates have obtained employment within six months of completing their final examinations, and earn monthly starting salaries ranging from $3,600-$4,000, which compare very well with that of other local universities. SUTD has also begun to establish itself as a high quality, research-intensive university in design, engineering, technology, and architecture. It has research collaborations with the Temasek Laboratories and ST Engineering. Looking ahead, SUTD will continue to collaborate with MIT, in research collaboration and also student exchanges, albeit not under a formal partnership agreement. SUTD will in fact expand its network of collaboration partners, with universities in different parts of the world. In short, SUTD is well positioned to be a unique and high quality university – well- regarded, reputable amongst employers and students, with a strong international network of partners. It will develop and grow to be stronger and better. Back to Contents SINGAPOREANS IN KEY LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT POSITIONS OF AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITIES

31 Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) whether the Ministry has any policy to encourage autonomous universities to have more Singaporeans in key leadership and management positions. 8

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Our policy is that Autonomous Universities (AUs) needs to build a strong core of Singaporeans in key leadership and management positions. Currently, Singaporeans make up around 70% of key leadership and management positions in the AUs. Three-quarters of Presidents and Provosts of Universities are Singaporeans. The AUs have in place talent development and leadership programmes to groom more Singaporeans to take on key leadership and management roles in their institution. They also actively reach out to leading Singaporean academics based overseas to attract them back to Singapore. The Ministry has also worked with the AUs to launch the Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent Scheme (or START in short) in 2015 to encourage more young Singaporeans to pursue an academic career. This year, we have awarded 38 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships under START. Notwithstanding the need to encourage more Singaporeans to take on leadership positions and responsibilities in AUs, we must recognise the need for AUs to stay connected to the world, in both education and research. They must remain open to bringing in global talent who can contribute with their diverse perspectives and knowledge to ensure that our AUs continue to remain competitive and relevant in the world. Back to Contents GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION OF ENCRYPTED INSTANT MESSAGING APPS

32 Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Ministry is investigating encrypted instant messaging applications such as Telegram amid concerns that this is "the app of choice" for terrorists.

Mr K Shanmugam: MHA is aware that terrorist groups use social media applications like Telegram to spread their propaganda, for recruitment, and even operational planning. This is a challenge faced by many governments and security agencies worldwide. We are closely monitoring developments. To counter the spread of extremist and radical ideology, the family and community must play their part. We have repeatedly made this point, because it is critical. They must alert the 9 authorities if they notice any signs of radicalisation in their family members, friends, or colleagues. Back to Contents RAISING MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR UNATTENDED BAGS AT MRT STATIONS

33 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the maximum penalty of $1,000 melted out for leaving a bag unattended in an MRT station is sufficient to deter such future incidents considering that the incident has caused major disruption to operations and affected thousands of commuters.

Mr K Shanmugam: The recent case of unattended bag at Hougang MRT station led to the temporary closure of the station. Although it turned out to be a false alarm, our security agencies had to deal with it, and it inconvenienced commuters. The subject involved in the case was found guilty of the offence of public nuisance and fined $1,000. We are reviewing the need to enhance the penalties for such offences, to deter future occurrences. Given the high level of terrorism threat, the Police will continue to take all security-related reports seriously. The public is advised to stay vigilant and to report suspicious activities to the Police. Back to Contents IMPACT OF CESSATION OF SAND IMPORT FROM CAMBODIA

34 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the impact of Cambodia's decision to cease the export of sand to Singapore; (b) what is the number of countries that continue to export sand to Singapore for reclamation purposes; and (c) what is the volume of sand imported into Singapore for reclamation, construction and any other purpose from every source country since 2007.

Mr : We have measures in place to ensure that Singapore is sufficiently prepared for disruption to our sand imports. First, Singapore imports sand on a commercial basis from a diverse range of countries, to 10

ensure resilience in our sand supply. And we will continue to encourage industry players to procure sand from alternative sources. Second, we have also been encouraging the industry to reduce the reliance on sand. For construction, the industry is adopting more sustainable construction methods like using structural steel and mass engineered timber. We have also been recycling excavated materials from the construction industry to replace a proportion of sand in some reclamation projects. Most recently, we piloted a polder development in Pulau Tekong, which reduces the volume of sand needed as compared to traditional reclamation. The Government will continue to work with industry players to explore new and innovative means to reduce our reliance on sand. As for the Member’s query on our sand import volumes, such figures vary from year to year depending on projects and availability. In 2016, we imported 35 million tonnes of sand. These figures are publicly available, similar to other traded commodities. Back to Contents EXTENSION OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT GOVERNMENT DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR MATCHING BENEFIT

35 Mr Kok Heng Leun asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Child Development Account dollar-for-dollar matching benefit can be extended to children of unwed parents born from 1 January 2005 to help support these families' efforts to care for their children and reduce the disadvantages that their children may face from birth.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: Last year, we reviewed and extended the Child Development Account, or CDA benefits to children of unwed parents. The Government granted CDA benefits to children of unwed parents born, or with an estimated date of delivery, from 1 September 2016. It is generally good practice to implement our policies prospectively. Any extension or enhancement of an existing scheme should thus have its own start date. Unwed parents who may require more support can approach any Social Service Office for financial assistance or Family Service Centre for socio-emotional support. Back to Contents BAN OF SMOKING AT OPEN WINDOWS OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES

36 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources 11

whether the Ministry will (i) consider further measures to ban smoking at open windows of residential properties and (ii) review and mandate the provision of closed smoking rooms in residential properties for smokers to smoke so as not to affect non-smoking residents.

Mr B M M: My Ministry’s long-term goal is to prohibit smoking in all public areas except at designated smoking areas to protect non-smokers from the harmful health effects of second-hand tobacco smoke. Over the years, my Ministry has progressively extended the smoking prohibition to more public areas. In 2013, the smoking prohibition was extended to the common areas in residential buildings, including common corridors, covered walkways, lift lobbies and stairwells. Our regulatory ambit does not extend to prohibiting smoking within one’s own residential property. At the Parliament sitting in August last year, we had informed the Member that smoking within one’s residential property, which is a private space, is not prohibited and beyond the Government’s jurisdiction. The Government has no plans to mandate the provision of closed smoking rooms in residential properties. In this respect, we encourage smokers to be socially responsible and considerate when smoking so that their neighbours living in close proximity would not be affected by the wafting of second-hand smoke. Residents who are affected by the wafting of second-hand tobacco smoke from their neighbour’s residences should try to reach out to them to resolve the issues amicably. Residents can also approach the Community Mediation Centre for assistance. Back to Contents CASHBACK FEATURES IN HIRE-PURCHASE SCHEMES

38 Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) whether the Ministry will consider regulating hire-purchase schemes that incorporate upfront cash back to hirers as these schemes contain features akin to money lending

39 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) (a) whether cashback features in hire-purchase schemes constitute a form of moneylending; (b) whether such schemes are de facto unsecured loans when goods depreciate quickly; (c) in 2016, what proportion of buyers have defaulted on their payments for three months or more; (d) whether such a market is sub-prime; and (e) whether additional regulation is needed. 12

Mr S Iswaran: Today, hire purchase schemes and moneylending activities are regulated under the Hire Purchase Act and the Moneylenders Act respectively. Hire purchase is one of a range of options that consumers can choose from to finance their purchases. Hire purchase schemes are private commercial arrangements. We do not have information on the number of hire purchase schemes in the market and the default rates of such schemes. The various consumer financing options come with different terms and conditions to cater to the different needs of consumers. Some business schemes offer upfront cashback and gifts to attract consumers. However, consumers should be aware of the tradeoffs between the different schemes available in the market. For example, schemes without any upfront cashback or gifts typically have lower interest rates and the repayment period is shorter. Conversely, schemes with very attractive upfront cashback or gifts, come with much higher interest rates and a longer repayment period. The total amount that consumers pay for their purchases would be higher under such schemes, potentially more than double the value of the goods they purchase. The Hire Purchase Act specifies the minimum information that companies must provide to consumers in writing before they enter into a hire purchase agreement. This includes information on the charges for early settlement of the agreement; effective interest rates; interest rates for overdue instalments and administrative charges. We strongly encourage consumers to review the terms carefully and assess their ability to meet the financial commitments before signing the agreement. The Monetary Authority of Singapore will also be working with MoneySENSE, the national financial education program, to raise consumer awareness on business schemes that come with upfront cashback. While upfront cashback payment to consumers does not constitute money lending under the Moneylenders Act, it is still a form of credit extension to consumers. The Government is watching closely the practice of businesses offering significant cashback amounts with their schemes. We take a serious view of business practices that irresponsibly entice consumers to take up excessive credit and will not hesitate to take action or review our regulations, if necessary, to restrict such practices. Back to Contents 13

ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AGAINST ILLEGAL SALE OF CONTRABAND CIGARETTES

40 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Finance (a) in the past five years, how many cases of illegal sales of contraband cigarettes have been reported and the sellers charged; (b) how many of them caught in such illegal activity are locals and foreigners respectively; and (c) whether the existing penalty is sufficient to deter such illegal activity or to encourage the sellers to work with authorities to locate the ultimate beneficiary.

Mr : Strong enforcement efforts and close-interagency collaboration have kept the peddling of contraband cigarettes in check. From 2012 to 2016, the number of peddlers caught remained relatively stable, averaging about 400 per year. About 80% of those arrested were charged in court, while the rest were issued a composition sum or stern warning. In the same period, the total number of contraband cigarette offenders caught each year, which includes smugglers, peddlers and buyers, fell by 29% from 28,502 in 2012 to 20,147 in 2016. The Member also asked whether existing penalties are sufficient deterrents. In 2012, we enhanced the penalties for dealing in contraband cigarettes. Upon conviction, for first time offenders, a minimum court fine of $2,000 would be imposed, and the maximum court fine is 20 times the amount of the taxes evaded. For repeat offenders caught with more than 2kg of contraband tobacco products, mandatory imprisonment for up to six years was also introduced. To date, our penalties have been effective in keeping the contraband cigarette situation in check. Singapore Customs will continue to work with other enforcement agencies to deter the buying and selling of contraband cigarettes. We will also continue to actively engage the public to raise awareness on this issue. Back to Contents REACH AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PIONEER GENERATION DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SCHEME

42 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Health (a) how many pioneers currently receive payouts under the Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme; (b) what has been the number of applications each year since the scheme was introduced; (c) what percentage has 14 been successful each year; (d) what has been the number of uncompleted applications each year; and (e) whether the Ministry assesses that the scheme has been effective in addressing the needs of pioneers with disabilities.

Mr : The Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme (PioneerDAS) was introduced in September 2014 as part of the Pioneer Generation (PG) Package for a special generation of Singaporeans. PioneerDAS is one of the measures amongst broader Government support for long-term care, which includes means-tested subsidies at senior care centres and nursing homes, the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund and the Foreign Domestic Worker Grant. The Government also provides public assistance, Comcare and Medifund for those who face financial difficulties and need more help. From its launch in September 2014 to end 2014, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) received around 6,700 applications. The application numbers in 2015 and 2016 were about 9,000 and 8,600 respectively. About 95% of applications have been approved. To help more Pioneers, AIC has extended automatic PioneerDAS inclusion to Pioneers receiving payouts under ElderShield or the Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly, or those who qualify for the Foreign Domestic Worker Grant. This auto-inclusion has benefited an additional 15,000 Pioneers. Back to Contents PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS AGAINST SECURITY THREATS

43 Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Health (a) how safe are the public hospitals in terms of security protection; (b) whether the Ministry will consider providing 24/7 security services by the Home Team as it had done in the past; and (c) how prepared are the hospitals in tackling a terrorist attack in such open premises.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: MOH has been working with MHA on the security protection of our public hospitals. Each hospital has put in place preventive security measures, physical security operations, contingency plans covering incident response and consequence management to deal with different scenarios and threat levels, including terrorist incidents. Assessments are carried out regularly on the competencies of the security personnel. In addition, there are programmes to raise security awareness among staff, patients and visitors. Hospitals also conduct regular 15

training and exercises including with the Home Team forces. In the event of a security incident, our public hospitals are resourced with their own security personnel onsite who can provide immediate response to "deny, delay and contain", while waiting for the arrival of Home Team quick response forces where necessary. The plan also covers appropriate actions by staff, patients and visitors, including evacuation. Our public hospitals are receiving ongoing support from Home Team agencies. They have participated in the Safety and Security Watch Group scheme with the Police and SCDF to strengthen the safety and security of their patient and staff on their premises and learn from good practices. The majority of public hospitals have also signed up as Project Guardian members, and their security personnel are trained to react and complement Police response to an incident. The Police conduct regular patrols at public hospitals and their vicinity. These include patrols by the Emergency Response Teams, who are trained and equipped to respond to a terrorist incident. During periods of heightened alert, the Home Team may deploy additional forces to beef up the security of the hospitals. We will continue to work closely with MHA and the Home Team on security preparedness and response at our public hospitals. Back to Contents PREPAREDNESS OF OUR POPULATION FOR EMERGENCY

44 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether any study has been done to determine the preparedness of our population for any emergency.

Mr K Shanmugam: Emergency preparedness is fundamentally about building confidence in our ability to respond to an emergency. To gauge the emergency preparedness of our population, we can look at three facets: first, awareness and knowledge of the types of emergencies that we may face and what needs to be done in each scenario; second, whether the population is taking active steps to pick up the skills required to respond in an emergency; and third, whether the population will stay united and resilient in the face of crisis. In 2015, the National Security Awareness Survey (NSAS) found that our residents were generally aware of the range of possible emergency scenarios, and were confident of our ability to respond to the emergencies as a nation. Between 80% to 90% of respondents felt that the Government is well prepared to deal with crises such as a terrorist attack, communal riot, health 16

pandemic, and shortages of water, food and energy. While respondents generally felt that they were less prepared as individuals compared to the Government in dealing with crises, the NSAS findings suggested that they would be better prepared if they had encountered a similar emergency scenario before. For instance, our residents felt they were most prepared to deal with a health pandemic, likely due to their past experiences with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, and H1N1 influenza outbreak in 2009. On the second facet of skills, our residents have been taking practical steps to prepare themselves to respond to an emergency. The 2015 NSAS found that more than 50% of our residents have a First Aid Kit at home; for those without a First Aid Kit, 80% of them knew where to find the essential items in their homes for use in first aid. There was also increasing alertness to suspicious behaviour, items and activities. Likewise, an increasing number of people are aware of what to do when they hear a SCDF public warning siren. Third, on unity and resilience, the survey found that 90% of our people believed that everyone has a role to play in ensuring our nation's safety and security, and were willing to help others during emergencies. About 80% also believed that we will stand united, regardless of race or religion, and that Singapore will continue to function effectively in times of crisis. While these are encouraging findings, more can be done to raise our people's awareness of new threats and the responses required, and help them to pick up the necessary skills. For instance, with Singapore continuing to face the highest terror threat level in recent years, we launched the SGSecure movement last September to raise preparedness among residents and galvanise a "whole of population" response to terrorism. To help members of public pick up useful skills, the Home Team and our partners have introduced various advisories, tools and programmes. This includes the series of revamped Emergency Preparedness Days which is being rolled out to all constituencies to give residents the opportunity to observe a live terrorist attack exercise in their neighbourhood, and pick up relevant emergency preparedness skills. Crisis Response Exercises (CRXs) are also conducted at the constituency-level for grassroots and other community leaders. Through these exercises, participants gain the knowledge and skills to assist the community and maintain social cohesion after a terrorist attack. 17

Besides preparing our community to handle terror attacks, we also conduct regular Safety & Security Watch Group (SSWG) exercises at commercial and industrial premises. In these exercises, businesses, their in-house security as well as their Company Emergency Response Team (CERT) practise their contingency plans with responders from the Police and Civil Defence. This helps businesses validate their workplace crisis response capabilities, and ensure that they are able to undertake critical functions such as basic fire-fighting, cordoning and evacuation in the initial phases of an emergency, before the authorities arrive. The level of preparedness of our population will also rise over time through combating national crises together. Our response to past emergencies such as SARS, H1N1 and the haze have made us better prepared and mentally more resilient should such emergencies occur in the future. Emergency preparedness is an ongoing, whole-of-society effort. We will continue to raise emergency preparedness among our community and mobilise our people to play their part. Back to Contents PROPORTION OF 999 CALLS THAT WERE EMERGENCIES AND REQUIRED POLICE INTERVENTION

45 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many 999 calls have been made annually in the last three years; (b) what proportion of these calls were for emergencies or which required direct police intervention; and (c) how does the police handle calls which do not require police attention and what measures are available to reduce such calls which drain police resources.

Mr K Shanmugam: Between 2014 and 2016, Police received an average of about 1.3 million '999' calls annually. This amounts to slightly more than 3,500 calls every day. About 40% of these calls required direct Police intervention, and Police resources were dispatched. The remaining calls were either nuisance calls or misdirected calls that did not require Police attention. There was a wide range of misdirected calls, including complaints on municipal issues like the cleanliness of common properties, and issues under other agencies' purview such as illegal hawking. When Police emergency call operators receive misdirected calls, they will advise the callers on the proper channels to report such issues. Examples of such channels include the 18 feedback lines of the relevant statutory boards or town councils. The Police also regularly educate the public on the correct use of the ‘999’ hotline, through engaging schools and partnering the media. The Police must be ready to respond to genuine emergency requests. Nuisance and misdirected calls may deprive persons in distress of timely Police intervention as the Police emergency call operators would be bogged down by these calls. If Police resources were to be dispatched to false cases reported by irresponsible callers, this will take our officers away from real emergencies. Where necessary, the Police will in consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, prosecute recalcitrant nuisance callers in court. The Police will continue their efforts to reduce nuisance and misdirected calls. Back to Contents INSTRUCTIONS ON SAFE USE OF PERSONAL MOBILITY DEVICES

46 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Manpower for employees who are required to use bicycles or personal mobility devices (PMDs) in the course of their work, how does the Ministry ensure that (i) they are adequately instructed by their employers on the road traffic rules and safe use of bicycles or PMDs (ii) employers have a system of monitoring their employees on such compliance and (iii) employers provide adequate insurance for their employees in respect of injury, death and third party claims arising from any accidents while using bicycles or PMDs in the course of work.

Mr : Under the Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA), all companies are required to ensure the safety and health of their workers. This includes providing them with adequate safety measures, instructions, training and supervision. This obligation extends to their use of bicycles or personal mobility devices (PMDs) in the course of work. In addition to WSHA, the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council has provided specific details of the companies’ responsibility in its "Guidelines on Traffic Safety Management". For example, companies should have a risk management process to identify and mitigate risks to riders, ensure proper training, and adopt best practices such as providing incentives for safe behaviour. Failure to comply with these guidelines can be used as an aggravating factor against companies in court in the event of work-related accidents and injuries. With the Active Mobility Bill passed in Parliament earlier this year, the WSH Council is working 19

with the Land Transport Authority to release new WSH guidelines on employers’ responsibility to ensure safe and responsible use of bicycles and PMDs for work purposes. To ensure compliance of traffic safety by employers and workers, MOM inspects workplaces providing dispatch, food delivery and logistics services, as well as other companies assessed to have a high risk of traffic injuries or fatalities. In 2016, 101 of such companies were inspected, and 63 Notices of Non Compliance were issued to 38 companies with poor traffic safety management. As there has been increased use of bicycles and PMDs in dispatch and food delivery services, we have stepped up our inspections on such companies. Any employee injured in the course of work is entitled to compensation under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA). This includes injuries and deaths arising from the use of a bicycle or PMD. If a third party has been injured as a result of a worker’s actions, MOM will investigate the company and worker for possible breach under the WSH Act. The injured third party may also take up civil claim against the company or worker through the legal process. Back to Contents PERCENTAGE OF PRO-FAMILY AND PRO-BREAST-FEEDING COMPANIES

47 Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how many companies are currently slated as "family-friendly" companies in absolute numbers and as a percentage of all companies in Singapore; (b) how extensively do companies support female workers who are breast-feeding their infants; (c) what new support systems are put in place to make the workplace environment a nurturing one for mothers and their families; (d) how do companies detect and provide emotive care for mothers who are in depression especially new mothers; and (e) what are the new initiatives that can be learned from countries that are successful in promoting "family- friendly" workplaces.

Mr Lim Swee Say: MOM is committed to helping Singaporeans fulfil their aspirations for career and family. Through the concerted efforts of our tripartite partners, we have seen improvements as more workplaces adopt family-friendly practices. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has identified flexible working arrangements (FWAs) as a key family-friendly measure that matters to employees. Increasingly, employers in Singapore have also recognised the importance of FWAs. In 2016, 47% of establishments 20

offered formal FWAs, compared to 38% in 2011. As a result, 67% of employees in Singapore work in companies offering formal FWAs, up from 56% in 2011. This does not include companies that offer FWAs on an ad-hoc basis. To support employers' efforts to foster more family-friendly workplaces, the Government offers generous grants, such as the WorkPro Work-Life Grant. Employers can tap on these grants to set up private lactation rooms at workplaces. For example, Greenwave Systems, a software and services company, has benefitted from the Work-Life Grant. Today, one quarter of Greenwave's employees utilise staggered hours and telecommuting options. In addition, Greenwave has lactation facilities, and permits staff to bring their children to work if they are unable to arrange for a carer. A 2016 survey conducted by NTUC found that 60% of working mothers had access to private lactation rooms or spaces at their workplaces, up from 35% in 2013. In addition, the Health Promotion Board conducts Management Training Workshops to help managers and HR personnel recognise common mental health issues, including depression. This will help companies provide appropriate emotional support to their employees, including new mothers. The tripartite partners continue to learn from other countries and try different ideas to make workplaces more family-friendly. The Returner Work Trial, which was announced by NTUC in July, will provide support for back-to-work parents to return to the workforce. In addition, the tripartite partners are jointly developing a Tripartite Standard on Flexible Work Arrangements to help employees identify companies with strong support for FWAs. Both employers and employees benefit from family-friendly workplaces. MOM will continue to work with our tripartite partners to grow the community of progressive employers with family-friendly workplaces. Back to Contents FIRE ALARMS FOR ALL HDB BLOCKS

49 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider installing fire alarm systems for all HDB blocks.

Mr Lawrence Wong: HDB buildings are designed to meet the prevailing Fire Code requirements. Each residential unit is designed as a fire compartment to prevent the spread of fire to 21 adjacent units. Fire-rated entrance door, walls and floors constructed of concrete and masonry will act as effective fire barriers. Common corridors and lift lobbies are also designed to be naturally ventilated for quick smoke dispersal. Adequate number of exit staircases located at an allowable distance from the unit entrances provide a safe means of escape out of the building in the event of a fire. To facilitate fire-fighting, dry or wet rising mains, fire engine access roads, fire-fighting lobbies and firemen lifts are also provided where required under the Fire Code. For standalone residential blocks, fire alarm systems and sprinkler systems are currently not required by the Fire Code due to the low risk of fire spread. However, for mixed developments, where there is integration of different uses (residential, commercial, social communal and carparks), sprinkler or fire alarm systems will be installed where required by the Fire Code. Back to Contents INFESTATION OF MAYFLIES IN NEE SOON SOUTH

50 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what are the reasons for the infestation of mayflies at certain blocks of flats in Nee Soon South; (b) how can NEA help to put a stop to it; and (c) how long will the eradication measures take to produce tangible results.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Mayflies are a type of small flying insects that are found in freshwater streams, rivers and reservoirs. They are not vectors that is they neither bite nor transmit diseases. In fact, mayflies are universally recognised as indicators of good water quality. They are also key for a balanced ecosystem as they are food for a variety of animals who live in our reservoirs. Mayfly larvae can only live in clean and clear water and they emerge from the water when they are adults to mate for a very short period of time. While mayflies can be found in all our reservoirs, they have been particularly abundant in Lower Seletar Reservoir. PUB receives a handful of feedback through the year (December-March and July- September) on the emergence of mayflies around the HDB blocks in Nee Soon South near Lower Seletar Reservoir. Their emergence is seasonal and lasts for a short period of time, about one to two weeks, as each adult can only live for a few days. While mayflies may be an occasional nuisance, they are harmless insects that occur naturally in areas around our reservoirs. 22

PUB has provided advice to residents who wish to take measures to prevent mayflies from entering their homes. These include switching off their lights when not in use as mayflies are attracted to light, installing insect screens at their windows or drawing their curtains, if needed. PUB has been carrying out regular checks around Lower Seletar Reservoir to monitor the counts of mayflies. Routine fogging for general pest control and mosquito control are carried out around the reservoir grounds and this routine fogging will also kill mayflies. I would like to once again assure members and residents of Nee Soon South that mayflies are harmless insects and an essential part of our natural aquatic ecosystem. Therefore, we seek residents' understanding and tolerance, should they find these harmless mayflies in their homes. Back to Contents SIGHTINGS OF CROCODILES IN SEMBAWANG

51 Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) whether the Ministry has done any follow-up to verify reported sightings of crocodiles in Sembawang; (b) how many of such sightings have been confirmed by the Ministry over the past 12 months; and (c) when the sightings are verified, whether there are plans to trap and relocate these crocodiles.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: I thank Dr Lim Wee Kiak for his question regarding the crocodile sightings in Sembawang. PUB was first alerted to a crocodile sighting in Sungei Sembawang, on 10 March 2017. Follow-up inspections at the reported location were conducted together with AVA to confirm the sightings. However, during the joint-inspections, AVA and PUB did not spot any crocodile in the area. There are safety railings and "do-not-enter" warning signs installed along Sungei Sembawang to deter people from entering the waterway. As an additional precaution, PUB is installing wire mesh at the lower rungs of the railings at the reported location to act as a physical barrier between the water and the footpath. This will be completed by end August. Before this recent spate of sightings at Sungei Sembawang, there have been four confirmed sightings in our reservoirs over the past five years. Currently, the crocodile has stayed within the waterway. Nevertheless, we are monitoring the situation with AVA and we will take steps to trap and relocate it, should the reptile venture outside its inland habitat. Notwithstanding this, should members of the public encounter a crocodile, they should remain calm and keep a 23

safe distance away from it. Public are reminded to not approach, provoke or feed the animal. They should also not enter the waterways at all times. Back to Contents STANDARD BAR CODE LABEL ON DRUGS AS SAFEGUARD

55 Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Health whether it can be made mandatory for all manufacturers or suppliers of drugs to have a standard bar code with product name, batch number and expiry date on its unit pack before they are imported, registered and sold in Singapore so as to safeguard the integrity of the drugs and to facilitate drug traceability.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Today, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) requires all manufacturers, importers and wholesalers of drugs to be licensed. To ensure traceability and supply chain integrity, they will need to keep records for every receipt and supply of drugs, and comply with standards in distribution. A drug's product name, batch number, expiry date and registration number will have to be indicated on each unit pack. In addition, HSA carries out post-market surveillance on quality or safety concerns arising from drugs. HSA agrees that a standardised bar-coding system can further improve drug traceability. Unfortunately, there is yet to be an internationally harmonised bar-coding standard for drug manufacturers and suppliers. Given our small market size, imposing our own requirement for all drug manufacturers and suppliers to adopt a standard bar-code could lead to companies being deterred from bringing their drugs into Singapore or passing on the additional cost to patients. This would not be beneficial to Singaporeans. HSA will continue to monitor international developments in this area. At the same time, it will continue to improve on its current system on drug safety and traceability. Back to Contents USE OF CPF FUNDS FOR CHILDREN'S TUITION FEES

57 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Manpower (a) in the last three years, what is the number of CPF account holders who have taken loans under the CPF Education Scheme to help their children pay for their tuition fees at approved educational institutions; (b) what is the percentage of these CPF account holders who have had their loans paid back by their children; and (c) whether the Government can consider allowing the children to redeem such loans 24

through deductions from the children's CPF savings.

Mr Lim Swee Say: The CPF Education Scheme is a loan scheme for CPF members to support their own, spouses’, or children’s full-time subsidised tertiary education at local Approved Educational Institutions. From 2014 to 2016, about 30,000 CPF members have successfully applied for loans under the CPF Education Scheme to pay for their children’s tuition fees. Over the same period, about 98% of outstanding loans due for repayment were fully settled. Mr Sapari asked whether children can repay the outstanding education loan using their CPF savings instead of cash. This is not allowed as they need to build up their CPF savings for other uses such as housing, healthcare and retirement. We recognise that some students may find it difficult to repay the loan immediately after graduation. Hence, students are only required to start repaying the loan one year upon graduation or after leaving their course of study. This gives them some time to find a job before starting repayments. Students who face difficulty repaying the full loan amount can apply for deferment or choose to make payments via monthly instalments for up to 12 years. Back to Contents PAID ANNUAL HOME LEAVE FOR FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS

58 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider making it mandatory for employers to provide paid annual home leave to foreign domestic workers.

Mr Lim Swee Say: Home leave arrangements, like those for rest days, are mutually agreed between FDWs and employers. In MOM’s FDW Study 2015, 56% of FDWs said they were provided with home leave either annually or at the point of renewal of their work passes. In addition, some employers also grant additional compassionate leave to their FDWs to deal with issues arising from unforeseen family circumstances back home. Making annual home leave compulsory for all may not be practical given that households have very different needs and home care arrangements. Unlike companies that have a pool of employees to cover for those on leave, household employers typically employ only one FDW and will have to make significant adjustments to look for alternative arrangements when FDWs 25

go on home leave. At the same time, some FDWs might prefer to be paid more in lieu of annual home leave. As such, the current approach provides greater flexibility for both FDWs and employers to mutually agree to leave arrangements as part of the employment contracts. Whatever the arrangements, employers are expected to ensure the well-being of their FDWs throughout their stay in Singapore. In addition, MOM and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) like the Centre for Domestic Employees also actively reach out to FDWs to check on their well-being and that they are well adjusted to working in Singapore. Back to Contents ACTIONS AGAINST SHORT-TERM RENTALS OF HOMES

59 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether there has been an increasing number of cases reported for illegal short-term rentals in private properties via apps such as Airbnb; (b) what actions have the Ministry taken against recalcitrant owners who continue to engage in such illegal short-term rentals; and (c) what can residents do to report such breaches in view of the consequent security concerns.

Mr Lawrence Wong: The number of cases reported for short-term rentals in private homes has risen over the past few years. The number of such reports rose from 377 in 2015 to 608 in 2016. For 2017, there have been 415 reports as of July. Residents who suspect their neighbours of conducting short-term rentals can provide feedback to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). The URA reviews public feedback about short-term rentals regardless of whether the cited infringement is facilitated by online applications or by other platforms. Once the URA establishes a case of short-term rental activity in violation of the Planning Act, it will serve an enforcement notice on the party responsible for the offence. In most cases, offenders have complied and ceased the unauthorised use. In the case of recalcitrant offenders, and in egregious cases of parties operating multiple short-term rental units in a single development, the URA will take court action against them for a breach of the Planning Act. Back to Contents AVAILABILITY OF HEAVY VEHICLE LOTS AROUND HDB TOWNS

60 Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked the Minister for National Development (a) 26

whether he can provide an update on how the Government will better ensure availability of heavy vehicle lots around HDB towns; and (b) whether there is a guideline on how accessible these lots need to be, whether by distance or travel time to nearby HDB towns.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Currently, there are about 44,000 heavy vehicle parking spaces island-wide, which exceeds the 33,000 heavy vehicles registered with LTA under the Vehicle Parking Certificate (VPC) scheme. LTA's VPC scheme requires every heavy vehicle to have a certified overnight parking space before it is allowed to be registered or have its road tax renewed. Roughly 75% of the existing heavy vehicle parking spaces is provided by the private sector within industrial estates, which is where most heavy vehicles operate. The remaining 25% of heavy vehicle parking spaces is managed by URA and HDB in the form of temporary heavy vehicle parks located within or at the fringes of residential areas. There are practical difficulties in providing heavy vehicle parks in residential areas where land is needed for housing and other community uses. We have also received feedback of residents' concerns on noise and safety arising from heavy vehicular traffic in residential areas. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of business owners to have parking solutions for the vehicles they own, and also to work out with their drivers the appropriate transport options to commute to work. Back to Contents ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

61 Mr Ang Hin Kee asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether the Ministry will consider requiring all public buses to be electric buses or to convert transport vehicles procured by the Government to run on electric energy.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Vehicles are one of the key local sources of air pollutants including Particulate Matter (PM) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) which may cause lung cancer and chronic respiratory symptoms over the longer term. My Ministry commissioned a study last year to identify cleaner vehicular technologies suitable for Singapore, especially as alternatives to diesel vehicles. One of the findings of the study was that electrification was promising for many vehicle types, including buses. However, the study also surfaced the challenges including higher 27

costs, reduced carrying capacity, long charging times, limited travel range and disposal of used batteries. To assess the feasibility of larger-scale deployment of alternative energy buses in Singapore, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be conducting trials of 50 hybrid and 60 electric buses over the next two years. Meanwhile, my Ministry is studying the feasibility of requiring Government agencies to use greener vehicles for their operations. We are currently evaluating the costs and the environmental impact of the different options available, including that of electric vehicles. Back to Contents CHECKS ON HAWKERS TO PREVENT TOUTING

62 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) whether the Ministry conducts checks on hawkers in food centres and other public areas such as Lau Pa Sat on a regular basis to ensure that there is no touting; and (b) what are the consequences when hawkers and their assistants are found to be doing so.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The National Environment Agency (NEA) does not have the mandate to enforce against touting in privately-managed food centres such as Lau Pa Sat, coffee-shops or foodcourts in shopping malls. However, in the 110 hawker centres owned and managed by the Government, touting is expressly disallowed and NEA officers will keep a lookout for touting activities during their inspections. Those hawkers and hawker assistants who are found touting and harassing customers could have their tenancies terminated. Members of the public who want to provide feedback on touting in these centres can do so via the NEA’s website, the myENV mobile application and the NEA 24-hour Call Centre. Back to Contents BICYCLE LOCATION SERVICES FOR BIKE-SHARE OPERATORS

64 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether LTA is able to obtain data from bike-share operators to draw a heatmap of indiscriminately parked bicycles and leverage on that data to prioritise where to locate more bicycle parking zones; and (b) whether the level of enforcement against indiscriminately parked bike-share bicycles differs 28

between private and HDB estates.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: LTA uses heat maps from bicycle-sharing operators, as well as data collected by its own enforcement officers and from public feedback, to identify areas where we need to build more bicycle parking zones and increase enforcement. The same enforcement approach is taken against indiscriminately parked bicycles in all public spaces, including in HDB estates and on public streets outside private property. We do not have jurisdiction over private land. Private landowners have the right to remove objects left on their property without permission. Back to Contents HUMAN RESOURCES INDUSTRY'S ROLE IN HELPING JOBSEEKERS

65 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Manpower whether the human resource industry can play a more contributory role to help local job seekers, new entrants and re-entrants in the job market in the new economic landscape and whether they can help to minimise missed matches in the labour market in the next phase of our economic growth.

Mr Lim Swee Say: The HR industry, comprising HR professionals and HR service providers, plays an important role in helping our workers adapt and grow in the future economy. To be effective, three shifts are needed. One is a mindset shift from looking at workers as "Human Resource" (HR) – a commodity to be acquired and utilised with value depreciating over time, to treating workers as "Human Capital" (HC) – an asset to be invested and nurtured with value appreciating over time. It means not just having a "hunter" mentality, poaching talent from the market for immediate plug and play. But a "grower" mentality to nurture and develop talent so their value to the organisation increases over time. Two is a shift in practices from qualifications-based hiring to skills-based recruitment and development. It means not being too reliant on educational qualifications and years of experience as proxies for candidates' suitability, but instead develop competency assessment tools or work trials that holistically assess job fit. Three is a shift towards promoting an inclusive workplace through fair consideration for jobs and adopting progressive workplace practices. This allows employers to reach a wider pool 29

of talent and bring about better business performance and higher employee engagement. To help make this transition, we have stepped up efforts to strengthen the capabilities of HR professionals. The Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) was recently set up by the tripartite partners to implement the national HR certification regime, known as IHRP Certification. To be successfully certified, HR professionals have to demonstrate knowledge in applying over 30 competencies and behaviours expected of a future-ready HR professional. Interest in the IHRP Certification has been encouraging, with over 700 HR professionals registering their interest to pursue the certification. HR professionals and HR service providers should tap on the many Professional Conversion Programmes (PCP). There are more than 70 PCPs across more than 30 sectors today, and we expect this number to grow. HR professionals can also play their part by creating intra- company PCPs, to help equip their employees with skills their company will need in the future. If it is necessary to retrench their workforce, HR professionals can help minimise mismatches and missed matches through progressive and responsible practices. Collectively, these efforts will help our workforce better adapt to take on better jobs and build new careers in our future economy. Back to Contents GOVERNMENT'S ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPERS OF MOBILE APPS FOR FOREIGN WORKERS

66 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Manpower with regard to the partnership with the private sector to develop mobile apps for foreign workers (a) whether the content and information provided to the partners are publicly available; (b) if so, what concrete benefits are there for the partners; and (c) whether transactional e-services such as the reporting of employment-related incidents will be included in the apps and, if so, whether the Ministry will fund such app development.

Mr Lim Swee Say: MOM called for partnership with the private sector to jointly reach out to more foreign workers through existing or new mobile apps in January 2017. There is no payment involved as it is a win-win partnership for both parties. To help foreign workers better understand their employment rights as well as responsibilities under the work permit conditions, MOM disseminates such information through 30

various outreach platforms, including the MOM website, guidebooks and collaterals given out at our Services Centre, dormitories and roadshows. We also produce videos for use at our engagement events. However, with the increasing use of smart phones and mobile apps, there is scope for us to leverage on this growing mode of communication to expand our outreach to the foreign workers. Instead of developing our own mobile apps which will only include government contents, we are partnering with owners and developers of mobile apps to provide a fuller suite of services that may be more effective in meeting the needs of the various target groups of foreign workers. On our part, we bring several benefits to the partnership. These include packaging and tailoring of information relevant to the needs of the foreign workers targeted by the respective apps; translating the information into native languages such as Bengali, Tamil and Chinese; sharing our findings on the mobile usage behaviour of foreign workers as well as their online interests and preferences. In addition, given our extensive touch points and outreach channels with the foreign workers community, MOM can assist in creating greater awareness of the apps. To enable foreign workers to send in comments on how to improve the app or to report on employment-related issues, our partnership requires the inclusion of a feedback module. However, our partners are not required to develop transactional MOM e-services as these are already available on the MOM website. Instead, they may provide the links to these e-services if they find it to be useful and attractive to their targeted users. These commercial apps are fully owned by our private sector partners. The partnership is not exclusive. We have signed MOUs with two app developers who saw the mutual benefits of such a partnership. Since June, we have received more than 30 enquiries from interested parties. Among them, eight have submitted proposals which we are currently evaluating. Back to Contents REVIEW OF HDB BLOCKS IN HOUGANG FOR LIFT UPGRADING PROGRAMME

68 Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for National Development whether he will provide an update on the review status of the HDB blocks in Hougang that are not under the Lift Upgrading Programme and what will be the fate of these blocks that will not get LUP after the review. 31

Mr Lawrence Wong: The Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) was introduced in 2001 to provide direct lift access to flats and enhance convenience for residents, especially the elderly and less mobile. At the start of the programme, there were more than 5,300 HDB blocks where not all dwelling units have direct lift access. Among them, more than 1,000 blocks were initially found to be unfeasible for LUP due to cost or technical constraints. Over the years, HDB has adopted innovative technical solutions to help flats in these affected blocks achieve direct lift access. Some examples of solutions that have been successfully implemented include lifts that do not have a machine room at the top of the shafts (that is, machine room-less lifts), creation of new entry points to residents' homes, and the use of smaller "home lifts". More recently, HDB piloted new solutions like the Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator at Lorong 6 Toa Payoh and the Vertical Platform Lift at Petir Road, but both were found to be unfeasible. Nonetheless, through the various innovative solutions, the vast majority of the 5,300 blocks have benefitted from LUP over the years. There remains about 150 blocks where it is still not possible to implement LUP due to prohibitive costs, or existing technical or site constraints. This includes six blocks in Hougang SMC. Residents living in these blocks who are in urgent need of direct lift access due to medical conditions or disability may approach HDB for housing and financing assistance. HDB will assess each request on a case-by-case basis to see how best to render help. Back to Contents UPGRADING AGEING BUS DEPOTS

69 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether there are any plans to upgrade ageing bus depots, in particular those built over 30 years ago; and (b) if yes, when will these be upgraded.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: All the older bus depots are progressively being upgraded or replaced by new ones. In the last five years, we have built three new depots. In the next five years, we are planning to upgrade or build around five more. In deciding which depots to upgrade, LTA considers the age of the depot as well as other factors like site constraints and operational requirements. 32

Back to Contents PARKING OF VEHICLES BY CAR RENTAL COMPANIES AT RESIDENTIAL ESTATES

70 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Transport what measures are in place to ensure that car rental companies do not abuse roads in residential estates as parking spaces for their hire cars when not hired out.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Where the roads in the private residential estates are public roads, and where parking is allowed along these public roads, the Land Transport Authority cannot forbid any individual or company from parking there. Back to Contents JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN SPORTSG AND FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE TO PROMOTE LOCAL FOOTBALL

71 Mr Ganesh Rajaram asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth how can SportSG work with the Football Association of Singapore to improve the quality of local football, the attendance at S League matches and Singapore's position in the FIFA World Rankings which has been declining.

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Sport Singapore (SportSG) works in partnership with National Sports Associations (NSAs), including the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), to develop their sports. SportSG brings to the table, the provision of training facilities, technical expertise for High Performance Sports (HPS), an extensive network of members for grassroots development, and funding support. Starting this year, Tote Board is channelling its funding for FAS through SportSG. As with other NSAs, FAS is required to submit to SportSG its multiyear strategic plans for the sport, so that the plans, including desired outcomes, can be discussed and agreed upon. The plans will include areas such as youth and coaching development, community outreach and participation, as well as football excellence which includes the review of the S League. SportSG is collaborating with FAS to develop football in Singapore, as seen in the recent merger of the FAS Cubs programme with the ActiveSG Football Academy in March to 33 encourage more youth participation in football. The Ministry hopes to see an effective partnership between SportSG and FAS in developing local football and improving the performance of our national team. Back to Contents CAREER COUNSELLING FOR POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS

72 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) whether polytechnic students are getting sufficient information about the wide range of careers in Singapore.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: In the polytechnics, there is a structured ECG curriculum in place, delivered by the lecturers with the support of the ECG Counsellors on campus. This is complemented by a wide range of resources made available to students such as labour market information and information on upgrading opportunities. Students will also be able to access the MySkillsFuture portal, once it becomes available later this year, where they can easily retrieve information on courses, job opportunities and the latest industry developments. To enable students to find out more about their industries of interest, the polytechnics also organise career fairs, company visits and talks by alumni or industry practitioners regularly. These events ensure that students are updated on the growth prospects of the industry, and aware of what working in the industry will be like, and the requirements to join the industry. There are also opportunities for deeper exposure to specific companies and industries through internships and mentorships. Internships are an integral component of polytechnic education, which allow students to experience realistic work conditions, develop relevant skillsets and better assess their career options and preferences. Back to Contents INDEX TO TRACK BUSINESS COSTS BY CATEGORY

73 Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) whether the Government will consider having trade councils or business chambers work with professional think-tanks to come up with an annual sectoral business costs index to track business costs by category, such as rentals, wages, transportation, raw materials, equipment, fees and charges, to assist the Government in deriving sector-specific policies for transforming our 34 industries.

Mr : The Government publishes a range of data on business costs on a regular basis, from the business cost structure of companies in the key business sectors, to trends in key business cost components such as labour and rental costs. For instance, the Department of Statistics (DOS) compiles and publishes the Unit Labour Cost (ULC) Index, which measures the change in labour cost per unit of real output, at the overall economy level and for key business sectors on a quarterly basis. Similarly, rental indices for industrial space and commercial space are compiled and published by JTC and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) respectively on a quarterly basis. Specifically for the manufacturing sector, DOS compiles an overall Unit Business Cost (UBC) Index on a quarterly basis. The main components of the UBC Index are labour cost, services cost and government rates and fees. The services cost component in turn includes work given out, rentals, utilities and transport costs. As for overall business cost trends in the services sector, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) estimates and tracks the Unit Business Cost Index for the Services Sector (UBC-Services Index), which is used alongside other cost and price indicators for monetary policy purposes. For a summary of the business cost structure and latest trends in business costs, Members can refer to the Economic Survey of Singapore published by MTI. At the same time, the Government welcomes private sector initiatives to deepen insights into business trends that would inform and facilitate industry transformation efforts. For instance, the Local Enterprise and Association Development (LEAD) programme, which is co- administered by SPRING and IE Singapore, supports Trade Associations & Chambers (TACs) in driving industry development initiatives. These include intelligence and research projects that would lead to the development of industry-specific solutions. Back to Contents

Office of the Clerk of Parliament Singapore, 1 August 2017