Volume 94 Monday No 22 15 August 2016

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS

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

Page

10. Ministry's Purchase of Document Generator System and Efforts to Integrate System with Existing Platforms (Mr ) 1 11. Co-ordination between LTA and ICA for Toll Collection at Land Checkpoints (Er Dr ) 2 12. Makeshift Brothels in Heartland Areas like Punggol and Woodlands (Mr ) 2 20. Reasons for Increase in Rates at HDB and URA Car Parks (Mr ) 3 23. Breakdown of Revenue and Expenditure for Operating HDB and URA Car Parks (Mr ) 4 28. Government Oversight of Contracts for Healthcare Workers Recruited for Public Healthcare Institutions through Private Agencies (Ms K Thanaletchimi ) 6 29. Election Reporting by Mainstream Media on Cooling-off Day (Mr ) 6 30. Regulator's Decision for Same-sex Kiss Scene in Musical (Mr ) 7 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. Supply, Demand and Pricing of Water (Mr and Mr Yik Chye) 7 38. Sectors Covered under Industry Transformation Programme (Mr ) 12 44. Review of Government's Demand Aggregation Contracts (Mr ) 13 45. Assistance for Bereaved Families on Administering Deceased's Estate (Dr ) 14 46. Qualifying for Maternity Protection under Child Development Co-Savings Act and Employment Act (Ms ) 15 47. Recourse for Employers of Foreign Domestic Workers with Mental or Critical Illnesses (Mr Teck Guan) 16 49, 50. Better Detection and Management of Child Abuse Cases (Mr Christopher de Souza and Ms ) 17 51. Impact on Rice Supply Given El Nino Effect and Weather Changes (Mr Chen Show Mao) 18 53. Number and Profile of Children Who Do Not Attend Pre-school (Miss ) 19 54. Impact of Compulsory Education Act on Enrolment for Primary School (Dr ) 20 55. Efforts to Tackle Phone Scams (Mr ) 20 56. Recruitment of Singaporeans in Police Force (Dr Chia Shi-Lu) 21 57. Ensuring Commuter Safety during Power Outages and Train Breakdowns (Mr Lip Fong) 22 58. Communication of Information about Safety and Emergency Features to Commuters (Assoc Prof Randolph Tan) 23 59. Government Construction Projects Awarded to Local and Foreign Engineering Companies (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 23 60. Increasing Singapore's Organ Transplant Rate (Assoc Prof Pei Siong) 24 61. Reasons for Recent Occurrence of a Cluster of Tuberculosis Cases (Dr ) 26 63. Estate Upgrading Programme for Private Estates (Mr Chun Fai) 27 64. Co-ordination of Works Required for Telephony, Gas and Utilities Supply Services under Estate Upgrading Programme (Dr Tan Wu Meng) 28 65. Mandatory Autism Testing for Babies (Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry) 29 66. Help for Growing Companies as Workforce Tightens (Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng) 29 67. Take-up Rate for Partnerships for Capability Transformation Scheme (Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng) 30 69. Standardised Internal Processes for Financial Institutions in Monitoring and Handling Potential Anti-money Laundering Cases (Ms ) 31 70. Impact of Private-hire Car Companies' Demands on COE Premiums (Miss Cheng Li Hui) 33 71. Inclusion of CPF Contribution in Calculation of Public Transport Affordability (Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong) 34 73. Student Drop-out Rate after Completion of Primary School Education (Dr Lim Wee Kiak) 35 75. Means Testing for Medifund across Restructured Hospitals and Specialist Centres (Dr Tan Wu Meng) 36 76. Tender Evaluation Method in Procurement of Manpower Services at Restructured Hospitals and Institutions (Ms K Thanaletchimi ) 37 77. Review of Rice Stockpile Scheme Given Extreme Weather Changes (Mr Chen Show Mao) 38 81. Employment of Stay-at-home Mothers in Public Sector (Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan) 38 83. Private Hire Driver's Vocational Licence for Permanent Residents and Work Permit Holders (Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong) 39 84. Lowering Threshold for Permissible Noise from Vehicles at Expressways near Residential Areas (Mr ) 40 85. Preventing Youths from Purchasing Sexual Services (Mr Zaqy Mohamad) 40 86. Take-up Rate by Students for Spanish as Third Language (Mr ) 41 87. Increasing Public Education and Penalties to Encourage Heavy Vehicle Drivers to Use Correct Lanes (Mr Zainal Sapari) 41 88. Referral by Private General Practitioners of Non-emergency Cases to Government Accident and Emergency Departments (Mr ) 43 90. Construction of Portable Ramps at Entrances to Old HDB Flats (Mr ) 43 91. Complaints of Second-hand Smoke from Neighbours at HDB Flats (Mr ) 44 92. Extending Non-smoking Zones in Selective Public Areas in Punggol (Ms Sun Xueling) 45 93. Enhancing Last-mile Connectivity with Shelters to Link Commercial Buildings to MRT Stations and Bus Stops (Mr Darryl David) 46 94. Pay-as-you-bid System for COEs (Mr Zainal Sapari) 47 95. Special Needs Children in Mainstream Schools (Ms Sun Xueling) 47 96. Prevention of Shop Thefts by Youths (Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye) 48 97. Re-designing Home Team Jobs (Mr Desmond Choo) 49 101. Using Forensics Data Analysis to Curb Recalcitrant High-rise Littering Culprits (Ms Tin Pei Ling) 50 102. Easing Congestion and Traffic Bottlenecks on KPE (Ms K Thanaletchimi ) 51 104. Number of Offenders Arrested for Loan Sharking and Illegal Money Lending Activities (Mr Gan Thiam Poh) 52 106. Update on Implementation and Take-up Rate of Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (Mr Gan Thiam Poh) 53 108. Approval Process for Flat Owners Subsidies under HDB’s Goodwill Repair Assistance Scheme (Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap) 53

MINISTRY'S PURCHASE OF DOCUMENT GENERATOR SYSTEM AND EFFORTS TO INTEGRATE SYSTEM WITH EXISTING PLATFORMS

10 Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for Manpower with regard to the Report of the Auditor-General for FY15/16 on the Ministry's purchase of a Document Generator System (DGS) (a) whether there is a provision made for the integration of a DGS in the original specifications for the $27.49 million Foreign Domestic Worker System (FDWS); (b) who advised the Ministry to procure the additional DGS at a cost of $432,407; and (c) who are the suppliers of the FDWS and DGS.

Mr : In 2012, MOM initiated a multi-year project to redevelop our IT systems for the processing of all work pass types comprising EPs, S Passes and Work Permits (covering FW and FDW). We called a tender in 2013 for phase 1 of the project covering the FDW system (FDWS). The scope included a common document generator system (DGS) to handle the high volume of correspondences (letters, notices, advisories etc) not just for FDWs but across all the work pass types. The phase 1 tender, excluding the DGS, was awarded to Thoughtworks in 2014. The DGS was separately awarded to NCS as NCS had proposed a software product that was more scalable and hence could be used by the entire work pass IT system for all the work pass types. However, as the project progressed, we discovered that more time was needed to fully integrate the common DGS with the FDWS. This would potentially delay the launch of FDWS and consequently incur additional cost as we would have to extend the use of the existing IT system. Hence, on balance, we decided to adopt a custom-built solution offered by Thoughtworks for the FDWS alone at no additional cost to us. The custom-built solution was suitable as the FDWS has a lower volume of correspondences. FDWS went live starting from December 2014 with the full launch in December 2015. Although the common DGS was not used for the FDWS, we will be using it in the subsequent phases of the IT redevelopment. It will be used to handle the higher volume of correspondences for the EPs, S Passes and other Work Permits as originally intended. Hence, the common DGS procured in phase 1 of the project will be put to good use in subsequent phases of the project which will start in 2017. 2

Back to Contents CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN LTA AND ICA FOR TOLL COLLECTION AT LAND CHECKPOINTS

11 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport (a) why is there a lack of inter- agency co-ordination between LTA and ICA in implementing toll collection at the Causeway checkpoints; (b) whether it is a standard procedure for LTA to monitor and review its projects to look for weaknesses; and (c) whether there is communication to LTA officers at all levels on the requirement of interfacing with other Government departments and agencies.

Mr : The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) had coordinated on the current process which relies on LTA officers stationed in the secondary clearance area to enforce against tolls and fees evasion. This allows ICA officers to focus on immigration and security screening. Having reviewed this process together with ICA, we believe that it can be improved. The two agencies are now jointly studying the feasibility of lifting the drop-arm barriers at the ICA immigration counter only after tolls and fees have been paid. This is not a straightforward exercise, as there are concerns such as ICA officers potentially being distracted by this new responsibility and speed of immigration clearance, that have to be addressed. I assure the Member that LTA regularly reviews its processes to enhance the effectiveness of its operations, and in collaboration with other agencies where needed. Back to Contents MAKESHIFT BROTHELS IN HEARTLAND AREAS LIKE PUNGGOL AND WOODLANDS

12 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what steps are being taken by the police to deal with makeshift brothels being set up in secluded areas within heartland areas like Punggol and Woodlands; and (b) whether investigations have been undertaken to determine whether there have been any women or girls who are victims of human trafficking at such locations.

Mr K Shanmugam: The Police conduct enforcement operations regularly to deter and 3 detect such activities. Over the past year, the Police have conducted anti-vice operations, in several places, including around heartland parks in Woodlands and Punggol. Two sex workers were arrested at Woodlands Town Garden in October 2015 and 21 persons, comprising 13 men and 8 sex workers, were arrested at Punggol Waterway Park in November 2015. Besides enforcement, the Police also work with grassroots leaders and other Government agencies such as the Singapore Land Authority to deter persons from entering forested areas to conduct such activities. These measures include improving lighting conditions, installing closed- circuit television cameras and enhancing patrols and enforcement checks in the area. For the two-year period from January 2014 to December 2015, Police’s investigations involving the sex workers arrested at makeshift brothels did not reveal any evidence of TIP offences. These foreign sex workers are recruited by operators in their home countries and come to Singapore to engage in this work voluntarily. The Police have set up a dedicated team of specialist officers to investigate sex trafficking cases. Besides the Police, frontline officers and support staff from other relevant government agencies have been trained on the procedures and case management approach for TIP cases. Suspected TIP victims will be referred to shelters and given appropriate assistance. Back to Contents REASONS FOR INCREASE IN RATES AT HDB AND URA CAR PARKS

20 Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for National Development with the recently announced increase in parking charges for URA and HDB carparks (a) what has been the main increase in cost in maintaining and operating carparks that require the increase; (b) what is the number of vehicles that will be affected by the differentiated season parking charges for second cars; and (c) whether there will be any assistance provided for older vehicle owners who may face difficulties with the increased season parking or hourly charges.

Mr : 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%. 4

The main increase in cost is due to: a. Rising overheads in the construction industry; b. More capital expenditures in new and existing HDB carparks, such as lifts and roof- shelters at multi-storey carparks; and c. Additional repair works required to maintain an increasing number of ageing carparks.

In reviewing the parking rates, we 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 carparks, are set at a higher charge to reflect the full cost recovery rate. This applies to about 31,500 HDB households, or around 12% of the 261,400 HDB households who own cars. We currently do not have plans to further subsidise other groups of car owners. Back to Contents BREAKDOWN OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR OPERATING HDB AND URA CAR PARKS

23 Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for National Development what is the basis for deciding to increase the car park charges for HDB and URA car parks.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Our key principle is that car owners should 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, i.e. the majority of our residents do not own cars1.

1Based on HDB Sample Household Survey 2013, 32.8% of HDB households own cars. 5

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%. The main increase in cost is due to: a. Rising overheads in the construction industry; b. More capital expenditures in new and existing HDB carparks, such as lifts and roof- shelters at multi-storey carparks; and c. Additional repair works required to maintain an increasing number of ageing carparks. Therefore, while HDB has largely been able to achieve cost recovery for its residential car parks in the past, this will not be the case going forward. From 2002 to 2015, HDB managed an average annual surplus of 4% of its average income (or $19 million) in its car park activity. But the fiscal position is worsening sharply. Without the revisions to car park charges, HDB expects to incur a deficit of 13% of average income, or $80 million this year. From next year till at least 2020, a deficit of around $100 million is projected every year. In fact, HDB expects to continue running a small deficit in the coming years, even with this latest increase in fees. Most of URA’s carparks are in the city centre and the parking charges are set higher than HDB carparks in order to appropriately manage parking demand. Despite this, without the fee revision, URA also expects to incur a deficit in its carpark activity in the coming years. Hence from a cost recovery point of view, adjustments have to be made to both HDB and URA car park charges. 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 carparks, are set at a higher charge to reflect the full cost recovery rate. While the revised parking charges will result in higher costs for car owners, it is necessary to do so to cover the costs of building, operating and maintaining car parks. It is only fair for car owners to cover these costs, because the alternative is for non-car owners to subsidise car owners. Right-pricing our parking rates is also in line with our aim to be a more “car- lite” society. 6

Back to Contents GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT OF CONTRACTS FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS RECRUITED FOR PUBLIC HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS THROUGH PRIVATE AGENCIES

28 Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry monitors and exercises oversight of public healthcare institutions that procure manpower from recruitment agencies with these agencies being the employer of the workers as there are cases where these workers are placed under the agencies' contract terms with perpetual renewal of their contracts without permanent tenure.

Mr : Public healthcare institutions procure manpower from recruitment agencies primarily to meet short-term and temporary manpower needs. In doing so, the public healthcare institutions would typically specify to the recruitment agencies that all mandatory statutory contributions have to be made to the workers. However, other terms and conditions of the employment contract, including the tenure and renewal of the contracts, are negotiated between the recruitment agency and its employees, and are not under the purview of the public healthcare institutions and the Ministry. Back to Contents ELECTION REPORTING BY MAINSTREAM MEDIA ON COOLING-OFF DAY

29 Mr Chen Show Mao asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) what are the limitations and requirements applicable to reporting on election matters by the mainstream media on Cooling-Off Day; and (b) what are the differences in requirements applicable to the mainstream media and licensed online news sites in respect of reporting on election matters on Cooling-Off Day and what is the rationale for the same.

Assoc Prof Dr : The law is clear with respect to the reporting of election matters by both mainstream media and licensed online news sites on Cooling-Off Day and Polling Day. Both mainstream media and licensed online news sites can only report election- related news factually. The mainstream media and licensed online news sites cannot publish any 7 election advertising - that is, material intended to raise the standing of, or secure the electoral success of, any candidate or party - on Cooling-Off Day and Polling Day. Back to Contents REGULATOR'S DECISION FOR SAME-SEX KISS SCENE IN MUSICAL

30 Mr Kok Heng Leun asked the Minister for Communications and Information with regard to MDA's action after a complaint has been made about a same-sex kiss scene in the musical Les Miserables (a) why did MDA decide to take action; and (b) what was the process undertaken by MDA which led to their decision.

Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: When classifying arts entertainment, the Media Development Authority (MDA) is guided by the Arts Entertainment Classification Code (AECC), which is drafted in consultation with the Arts Consultative Panel and the industry to reflect current social norms and standards. In applying the Code, MDA takes into consideration the theme, the context in which the scenes appear and the treatment of the content, based on the information provided by the applicants. In the case of Les Miserables, the MDA gave the musical a ‘General’ rating based on the script that was originally submitted. The same-sex kiss scene was not mentioned in that submission. Subsequently, MDA received public feedback that the musical contained a same-sex kiss scene. Upon reviewing the performance, MDA told the applicant that the rating for the musical would need to be revised to 'Advisory' due to the scene. The ‘Advisory’ rating helps to inform the public that there is content that may be offensive, or inappropriate for children. However, the applicant decided to remove the scene so as to keep the ‘General’ rating for the rest of the musical’s run. Back to Contents SUPPLY, DEMAND AND PRICING OF WATER

32 Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources in light of the recent low water levels in our water catchments as well as extreme climatic events in the long term, what can be done to ensure a stable and long-term supply of water.

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33 Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) whether the price of water now reflects the full cost of water services including the cost of transporting waste water and the building of all water infrastructure; and (b) if not, what is the extent of the Government subsidy and to what extent will prices have to rise in order to reflect full cost recovery and not just the long-run marginal cost of water.

34 Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether the provision of average water consumption figures of households of the same housing type in the same block or street to allow consumers to compare and contrast their consumption patterns with their neighbours has been effective in spurring water conservation.

35 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources if he can provide an update on PUB's efforts in the past two years to support companies with high water utilisation rates in their initiatives to recycle or re-use water.

36 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether domestic households can pay a lower water conservation tax when their water bills show that they have used less water than the national average for their housing type for a consecutive period of six months.

Mr B M M: Both Mr Seah and Mr Yong have raised questions related to the supply, demand and pricing of water. Indeed, water remains an existential issue for Singapore. First, let me address Mr Seah’s concern over our future water supply. Long-term planning to meet water demand has always been at the top of my Ministry’s agenda. At the recent Committee of Supply Debate, I had shared that PUB, our national water agency, had completed its Water Master Plan 2016 review. This plan outlines Singapore’s long-term water supply strategy for the next 50 years. The plan not only seeks to ensure water adequacy to meet future demand, but also caters for resilience against contingencies, such as prolonged dry weather and other disruptions to water supply sources. Our total water demand is projected to double by 2060. While we seek to augment supply from local catchments, there is a limit to this, as two-thirds of Singapore is already water 9 catchment. To ensure long term water security, we plan to double our NEWater and desalination capacities by 2030. By 2060, these two sources will supply up to 85% of our water needs, and also help to reduce our vulnerability to weather uncertainties. We are now developing our third and fourth desalination plants, which will be ready in 2017 and 2019 respectively. At the Singapore International Water Week last month, I announced that we would build a fifth desalination plant on Jurong Island, with the capacity to produce 30 million gallons of water per day. The fifth NEWater plant will commence operations in end 2016. We are also enhancing our used water system ahead of demand. PUB will be implementing Phase 2 of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (or DTSS in short) over the next 10 years. This superhighway, designed to last the next 100 years, will allow us to collect used water more efficiently. Our water reclamation plants and NEWater factories will be expanded progressively to treat and recycle every drop of used water collected. PUB aims to increase Singapore’s used water recycling rate from the current 30% to up to 55% in the long term, by capturing used water more effectively and improving treatment technology. Hence, I would like to assure members that the Ministry and PUB are actively planning for and implementing infrastructure to meet long term water needs and enhance our resilience. But simply enhancing supply is not sustainable. Mr Yong has rightly pointed out the importance of water conservation, in both the non-domestic and domestic sectors. A large share of our water demand growth will come from the non-domestic sector. Hence, PUB has put in place extensive measures to encourage companies to use water efficiently, including recycling. Since 2015, PUB has required the submission of Water Efficiency Management Plans (WEMP) for large water users that consume 60,000 cubic meters or more a year, equivalent to 24 Olympic-sized swimming pools. These plans help companies become more aware of their water usage patterns, and identify ways to reduce consumption. More than 600 large water users have submitted their plans. PUB will study the data collected, with the aim of developing water efficiency benchmarks and good practice guidelines, including that for water recycling, for different sectors. PUB also implements the Water Efficient Buildings certification programme which recognises building owners who put in effort to raise water efficiency. Further, PUB, together 10 with SPRING Singapore and industry stakeholders, has developed guidelines, tools and best practices to help users improve water usage efficiency. Other enabling measures include a Water Efficiency Manager Course for Facilities and Operations managers, as well as system consultants and certification bodies in water management. Companies can also tap on a Water Efficiency Fund (WEF) for water efficiency studies and projects. Last year, there were 203 successful WEF applications with a total approved funding of $3.9 million. Projects supported include water recycling projects and installation of private water meters to help companies better detect leaks and monitor water usage. One specific example where PUB is working closely with large water users to implement recycling is with the Singapore Refining Company. PUB is working with SRC to implement an Effluent Treatment Recycling Plant to produce NEWater-grade water for non-potable uses. When completed by 2016, it will help the company reduce its NEWater use by 2,500 m3 (an Olympic-sized pool) per day. On a wider scale, PUB plans to work with companies on Jurong Island to meet their cooling demand with seawater instead of freshwater supply. For the domestic sector, PUB has mandated water efficiency labelling and minimum standards to help consumers select more water efficient fittings and appliances. PUB also carries out extensive outreach and educational programmes to encourage households to use water judiciously, as well as studies on households’ water usage patterns, to identify opportunities to improve water efficiency. For instance, PUB participated in an initiative led by SP Services to re-design the utility bill to help consumers understand their utility usage. From this month onwards, all domestic customers will be able to see how their utility consumption compares against the national average as well as the average consumption of households of similar housing types. We hope that this additional comparison feature, together with our other water conservation initiatives, will help consumers to be more mindful of how they use water in their daily lives. As it may take some time for water consumption behaviour to change, PUB will continue to monitor and assess the effect of the bill comparison feature. Finally, on water pricing. Water has to be priced appropriately to manage water demand, and to ensure sustainability in water supply. In Singapore, we price water based on the long run marginal cost (LRMC) of the next available drop of water. Mr Seah has asked if this price reflects its full cost. 11

Currently, the total price of water reflects the LRMC, and comprises the water tariff, used water charges, as well as a Water Conservation Tax (WCT). The total water price recovers the costs of production and conveyance of potable water to meet demand, the treatment of used water, and the maintenance of the used water network. The development cost of infrastructure to collect used water (ie, sewers) is funded by government grants as sewers are regarded as a public good. The WCT is imposed as a percentage of the total water consumption to reinforce the message that water is precious from the very first drop. We believe that the total water price must reflect costs as closely as possible and have pegged it to the cost of producing the next drop of potable water, which is likely to be more from desalination and NEWater. Mr Yong has suggested tier-ing the WCT. Currently, a higher WCT is already levied on households that consume more water. While households that consume less than 40m3 of water pay a water tariff of $1.17/m3, and a WCT at 30% of the water tariff, households that consume more than 40m3 of water per month pay a higher tariff and a higher WCT, at 45% of tariff. This differentiated WCT rate, as well as the differentiated water tariff, serves to discourage excessive water consumption. Mr Yong’s suggestion is to further tier the WCT based on the average household consumption for each housing type. This would mean having to apply different thresholds for different housing types, and changing the thresholds whenever the national average consumption for a housing type changes. Such a complex structure could be confusing to consumers and is more challenging to implement, compared to the current WCT structure. But both Members’ questions have highlighted pertinent issues regarding the pricing of water - issues such as the sustainability of our water supply in future, as well as the need to manage demand. It has to be noted that the price of water has remained unchanged for 16 years, since 2000. PUB has been able to keep the price relatively stable all these years because of improvements in membrane technology and productivity. Most of the incremental improvements have already been reaped and what remains are longer term breakthrough technologies which may take many more years to be proven operationally and become deployable. At the same time, wages, asset renewal, and energy prices have risen over time and will continue to exert upward pressure on water costs. In addition, the challenges posed by climate change and increasing urbanisation have necessitated additional costly infrastructure to enhance our water supply resilience. In the last five years, PUB has completed or launched an unprecedented number of major projects - including two reservoirs, two NEWater factories, four desalination plants, and 12

Phase Two of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System with a centralised Water Reclamation Plant. Hence, while PUB will continue to explore new technology to lower costs of production, especially for desalination and recycling, these technology-induced cost efficiencies may not be able to “outweigh” the increase in other cost drivers like capital, maintenance and manpower expenses. We will need to continually review the price of water to ensure that our water system remains financially sustainable and reflects the scarcity value of water accurately. With the support of all stakeholders doing our part to use water wisely, we can look forward to SG100, confident that our taps will always flow. Back to Contents SECTORS COVERED UNDER INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME

38 Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) (a) what are the identified sectors to be covered under the $4.5 billion Industry Transformation Programme; and (b) what are the sector-specific measures to help qualifying companies in the identified sectors.

Mr S Iswaran: As part of the $4.5 billion Industry Transformation Programme (ITP), the Government will develop individual Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) for 23 sectors. They include both domestically-oriented sectors such as construction, healthcare, food services, and retail, as well as outward-oriented sectors such as hotels, logistics, food manufacturing, and precision engineering. These sectors account for about 80% of GDP. Each ITM will comprise a growth and competitiveness plan, and will integrate existing sector-specific initiatives and schemes. These include programmes to upgrade productivity, develop skills, promote technology adoption & innovation, and help companies expand overseas. Each ITM will be developed and implemented in partnership with companies, industry associations, business chambers, and unions. Let me use Precision Engineering (PE) as an example. The productivity roadmap for the sector promotes automation, process improvement, and job redesign among PE companies. At the same time, the Precision Engineering Vocational Continuing Education and Training (PEVC) programme will develop a pipeline of skilled craftsmen to support the shift to higher value-added manufacturing. In the longer term, we also aim to seize growth opportunities afforded by 13 technologies such as additive manufacturing and advanced robotics. The Singapore Precision Engineering and Technology Association (SPETA) and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) are partnering the Government in refining and implementing these initiatives. Collectively, the ITMs are important opportunities for the Government and industry to work together and maximise the benefit for companies. The plans will be refined over time in response to external developments and trends as well as the needs of companies in each sector. Back to Contents REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT'S DEMAND AGGREGATION CONTRACTS

44 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Finance (a) how are demand aggregation contracts for outsourced manpower services called for by Vital (the agency for shared services within the public sector); (b) what are the measures in place to ensure that the terms included in such contracts are fair and reasonable and that workers are not short-changed; and (c) what measures are in place to ensure that procurement officers for such contracts are kept up-to-date on changes in employment laws to ensure that workers in outsourced contracts are bound by fair employment terms.

Mr : From time to time, public sector agencies may require temporary staff to support ad-hoc projects or cover those on leave. To meet such temporary demands, one avenue is for agencies to procure manpower services from employment agencies. Vital, as the Government’s shared services provider, will consolidate the demands of Public Service agencies and establish a Public Service-wide contract so that agencies may procure from the contract efficiently, as and when they require such services. Like most other Government tenders, the demand aggregated contract for outsourced manpower services is called through open tender on the GeBIZ procurement portal. All the employment agencies in Vital’s service-wide contracts are required to comply with prevailing laws including the Employment Act, Central Provident Fund Act, Child Development Co-Savings Act, Skills Development Levy Act and Work Injury Compensation Act. Hence, workers under Vital’s service-wide contracts would enjoy the employment entitlements covered by these regulations, including leave, medical and overtime benefits and adequate termination notice. Vital works closely with the Ministry of Manpower to ensure that the employment 14 agencies comply with the law. In addition, any feedback on non-compliance will be investigated. If substantiated, depending on the severity of the non-compliance, the contract with the employment agency may be terminated. Vital is also aware of and are looking into how the latest guidelines, recently released by the Ministry of Manpower, National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) on 20 June 2016, can be adopted. Back to Contents ASSISTANCE FOR BEREAVED FAMILIES ON ADMINISTERING DECEASED'S ESTATE

45 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Law (a) what processes are put in place to inform and assist bereaved families on the process of administering a deceased's estate; (b) how many legal aid applications have been granted deductions by the Director of Legal Aid over the past three years and of which, how many have been for bereaved families facing financial hardship; and (c) whether the Ministry has plans to review the disposable income and capital for legal aid means testing.

Mr K Shanmugam: When a person passes away, the next-of-kin will have to apply to the Family Justice Courts to obtain the necessary documents that authorise specific persons to undertake the administration of the deceased’s estate. The next-of-kin may check the Courts’ website for an information guide, or contact the Courts for any queries relating to the filing of Probate. If the estate value does not exceed $50,000, the next-of-kin can apply to the Public Trustee to administer the estate, subject to certain criteria: for instance, that there are no conflicting claims to the estate and that the estate does not have any outstanding debts. For estates of higher value, the next-of-kin will have to engage a lawyer to assist in the estate administration, and the costs of doing so can be recovered from the estate. Persons of limited means may also approach the Legal Aid Bureau or legal clinics in the community for legal advice. The Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) receives around 10,000 applications per year, of which around 7% are probate, letters of administration and other estate cases (collectively referred to as ‘Estate Cases’). Between FY2013 and FY2015, LAB received a total of 1940 applications for Estate Cases. Of these, 1566 applications, or about 80% of applications, qualified for legal aid, 15 but not all of them followed through. To qualify for legal aid in civil matters, under the Legal Aid and Advice Act, applicants will have to satisfy a means test. The means test is satisfied where the applicant’s disposable income is not more than $10,000 per year, and he or she has not more than $10,000 of disposable capital. Contributions to the Central Provident Fund, amounts for dependents’ living expenses and the applicant’s HDB flat are automatically deducted from the calculation of disposal income and disposable capital. In addition, further deductibles can be applied in certain special circumstances, such as where the applicant is suffering from sudden physical or mental disability which permanently and severely restricts the applicant’s capacity to earn an income. However, there is no special category for bereaved families, because legal aid is granted based on the applicant’s financial status. In 2013, the Act was amended to allow approximately 25% of Singapore citizens and permanent residents to qualify for legal aid under the means test, up from 17% previously. The Director of Legal Aid was also given discretion, in family proceedings which involve children or protection orders, to ensure that the most vulnerable persons in a family dispute are eligible for legal aid. Back to Contents

QUALIFYING FOR MATERNITY PROTECTION UNDER CHILD DEVELOPMENT CO-SAVINGS ACT AND EMPLOYMENT ACT

46 Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the only document that is recognised for a female employee to qualify for maternity protection under the Child Development Co-savings Act and Employment Act is a medical report certifying her pregnancy; and (b) whether a female employee who qualified for maternity protection may appeal against unfair dismissal if she was dismissed after making known her pregnancy but suffered a miscarriage thereafter.

Mr Lim Swee Say: The Employment Act (EA) and the Child Development Co-savings Act (CDCA) protect female employees during pregnancy and while on maternity leave. Employees who are eligible for maternity protection and benefits under the EA and CDCA 16 must be certified pregnant by a registered medical practitioner. This certification can take the form of a memo, letter or medical report that is signed by the medical practitioner. The maternity protection against unfair dismissal applies throughout the pregnancy, regardless of whether the employee later has a miscarriage. An employee can submit an appeal to MOM if she was unfairly dismissed while pregnant. MOM will investigate accordingly and take appropriate actions under the EA. Back to Contents RECOURSE FOR EMPLOYERS OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS WITH MENTAL OR CRITICAL ILLNESSES

47 Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what recourse does an employer of a foreign domestic worker (FDW) have when the hired FDW already has a mental illness, cancer or critical illness which may not be discoverable at the time of hiring and these are excluded from the compulsory insurance cover; and (b) whether it can be mandated that these illnesses be areas of coverage in the compulsory insurance which FDW agencies and/or employers of FDWs need to procure.

Mr Lim Swee Say: Every foreign domestic worker (FDW) is required to be certified fit for employment by a Singapore-registered doctor before she can start work. This involves a medical examination by the doctor and a declaration by the FDW on her medical history, covering pre-existing conditions such as mental illness, diabetes and heart disease. Any FDW who makes a false declaration will have her work pass revoked, may be charged in court, and permanently barred from working in Singapore. To ensure that the medical costs incurred by individual FDW are not transferred to other taxpayers, employers of FDWs are required to bear the cost of any medical treatment incurred by their FDWs. This includes illnesses not discovered earlier. Nonetheless, it is important to note that the current compulsory medical insurance coverage already covers fully 97% of all inpatient and day surgery bills for FDWs at public hospitals. For the small minority of employers who face genuine difficulties in paying their FDWs’ medical bills, they can seek assistance from Medical Social Workers at the relevant healthcare institutions. To keep premiums affordable and provide adequate coverage, insurance companies which sell the compulsory medical insurance for FDWs currently do not cover pre-existing illnesses. 17

Mandating compulsory coverage of pre-existing illnesses will raise costs for all employers, even for those who do not need it, and therefore, needs to be carefully considered. Regardless, individual employers can voluntarily purchase additional insurance for greater coverage. Additionally, employers can choose to send their FDWs for more medical examinations prior to employment to check for pre-existing illnesses. Back to Contents BETTER DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF CHILD ABUSE CASES

49 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Social and Family Development what safeguards are currently in place to provide for better detection and management of child abuse cases and what more can be done to prevent the number of such cases from escalating.

50 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what are the mechanisms put in place for early intervention of possible child abuse where young children under the age of five are placed in the care of parents who have a history of drug abuse or mental illness; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider an inter-Ministry monitoring effort for children who are at risk of child abuse to prevent such abuse before it happens.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: Every child deserves to grow up in a safe environment free from abuse and neglect. Apart from taking upstream measures to strengthen families, my Ministry’s Child Protective Service has invested in strengthening the capabilities of our partners to detect abuse and intervene appropriately. For instance, we have over the years introduced better screening tools and training for professionals such as teachers, social workers, and healthcare workers to pick up early warning signs and either connect the families with community-based help, or escalate the case to the Ministry for intervention. In our intervention in a case of child abuse or neglect, we strike a balance between keeping the family together, and ensuring the immediate safety of the child. Where feasible and the safety of the child is not compromised, we prefer to keep the family together. For such cases, we would work with the relevant professionals and the child’s family to put in place a safety and case plan. Such a plan could include having a suitable family member as the main caregiver to watch over the child, or the family taking steps to ensure the alleged perpetrator does not spend time alone with the child. If the child’s caregiver has mental health or substance abuse issues, we would 18 refer the caregiver for treatment. The aim is to minimise the risk of future harm to the child. In serious instances, we would have to make the difficult decision of removing a child from his home and placing him in alternative arrangements such as kinship or foster care. The monitoring and combating of abuse is done at the policy and planning level through the Inter-Ministry Workgroup on Child Protection. Operationally, the National Family Violence Networking System enables close collaboration and management of abuse among my Ministry, the Singapore Police Force, the Singapore Prison Service, the Courts, hospitals and Family Service Centres. My Ministry also monitors high-risk cases such as siblings of abused children, and partners with professionals to put in place a safety and case plan for soon-to-be delivered babies in families with a history of abuse. We will continue to work with the community to strengthen the preventive and monitoring efforts for at-risk children. There were instances where child abuse went undetected and unreported. To address this, we have invested in public education and outreach efforts to encourage members of the public to report to the ComCare Call helpline at 1800-222-0000 if they are aware of child abuse or if a child is at risk of being abused. Back to Contents

IMPACT ON RICE SUPPLY GIVEN EL NINO EFFECT AND WEATHER CHANGES

51 Mr Chen Show Mao asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) (a) whether the Ministry foresees a reduction in the supply of rice from countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, India and elsewhere in Southeast and South Asia due to the 2015-2016 El Niño and associated drought and heatwave; and (b) how might such a reduction impact rice prices in Singapore over the rest of the year.

Mr : As a consequence of El Nino, the US Department of Agriculture expects a reduction in world rice production for 2016 by 1.6% or 7.7 million metric tons due to reduced crop yields in major rice-producing countries such as Thailand, India and Vietnam. However, the market does not expect a supply disruption due to the availability of rice from stockpiles, such as those in Thailand. Furthermore, El Niño has weakened with the arrival of the monsoon in June. World rice 19 production for the year ahead is forecast by the US Department of Agriculture to increase by 9.8 million metric tons. Retail prices of rice in Singapore have been relatively stable in the last one year and are expected to remain so for the rest of the year, barring any unforeseen crisis. Back to Contents NUMBER AND PROFILE OF CHILDREN WHO DO NOT ATTEND PRE- SCHOOL

53 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) in the last three years, what has been the number and percentage of each cohort of Singaporean children who have not attended pre-school; (b) what is the typical profile of these children; (c) what are the main reasons preventing them from receiving pre-school education; and (d) whether the Ministry will consider making pre-school education compulsory.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: Over the last three years, over 90% of Singaporean children aged five to six years were enrolled in pre-schools. By age six, close to 99% of Singaporean children would have some pre-school experience. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) works with the community to reach out to Singaporean children who are not attending pre-school by age five. Our community outreach partners conduct home visits to understand the family’s situation and work closely with the family to overcome the barriers to the child’s pre-school participation. There are various profiles of children not attending pre-school, due either to their family’s circumstances or preferences. For example, there are those who are living overseas, or whose parents prefer other options for their child’s development such as home-schooling, enrichment classes or specialised interventions. There are also children from more disadvantaged backgrounds. We recognise the importance of the pre-school years in a child’s development, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, it is also important to preserve some parental choice and involvement in the type of experience a child has at pre-school. Hence, rather than a broad policy of compulsory education at the pre-school years, our approach is to ensure the provision of accessible, affordable and good quality pre-school services, with proactive outreach and targeted assistance for those from more disadvantaged backgrounds. 20

In line with this approach, ECDA has started to progressively roll out KidSTART, a new initiative to reach out to and ensure that children from low income and vulnerable families have early access to appropriate health, learning and developmental support, including attending quality pre-school. Back to Contents IMPACT OF COMPULSORY EDUCATION ACT ON ENROLMENT FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL

54 Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Acting Minister for Education (Schools) since the Compulsory Education Act came into force in 2003 (a) whether there has been 100% enrolment for primary school and, if not, what are the challenges; and (b) how many parents are charged each year for failing to send their children to attend primary school.

Mr : The Compulsory Education (CE) Act requires all Singaporean children above the age of six and below the age of 15 who are residing in Singapore to regularly attend a national primary school, unless they are exempted from doing so. We hold parents accountable for this, as well as their children’s participation in the Primary One (P1) registration exercise in the year the children turn six. Most parents dutifully register their children in our national primary schools unless they are exempted for valid reasons. For instance, some children have special educational needs or are enrolled in designated schools. A small number of parents also obtain approval to home-school their children. To date, we have not found it necessary to resort to prosecution. No parents have been charged under the Compulsory Education Act since its inception. Back to Contents EFFORTS TO TACKLE PHONE SCAMS

55 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many people have been arrested for phone scams in the past two years; (b) how many cases are currently under investigation; (c) how many scams are run by mainland Chinese targeting especially elderly citizens; (d) whether the Ministry will look into how it can more speedily alert the public, in particular the elderly, to any new phone scams; and (e) whether the Ministry will consider 21 enhancing penalties against phone scammers.

Mr K Shanmugam: Scams are now being committed not just through phone conversations, but also over the Internet, as accessed through mobile phones and computers. Such scams include credit-for-sex scams, internet love scams, kidnap hoax scams and lottery scams. There were 2,450 of such cases in 2015 as compared to 1,007 cases in 2014. In the last two years, 127 persons were arrested in connection with these cases. Scammers convicted of cheating are liable to imprisonment terms of up to 10 years and a fine. MHA will continue to ensure that our laws are relevant and effective against scammers. Perpetrators of scams come from many different countries, including China. They do not select specific targets; they do a general sweep and hope that they strike at least a few victims. We have not observed any specific targeting of elderly victims. The Police recognise that public education is key in preventing members of the public from falling prey to scams. The Police regularly publicise crime advisories via different media platforms, such as Crimewatch episodes, newspapers, the Police’s Facebook page and the National Crime Prevention Council’s Scam Alert website. The Police have also strengthened efforts to reach out to the public, particularly the elderly, through Community Safety and Security Programmes and educational roadshows. In 2015, the Police conducted more than 80 roadshows in the community. We urge the public to exercise caution and vigilance, to avoid falling victim to scams. Back to Contents RECRUITMENT OF SINGAPOREANS IN POLICE FORCE

56 Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how is the recruitment drive to attract more Singaporeans to the Police Force progressing; (b) how many have joined in the last two years; (c) what is the retention rate; and (d) whether there are plans to expand the number of Neighbourhood Police Posts.

Mr K Shanmugam: In the last two years, the Singapore Police Force recruited close to 1,300 Police Officers. The retention rate has been stable, with an annual resignation rate of 2%. There are however limits to how far we can sustain this pace of recruitment. Like the rest of the civil service, the SPF headcount is subject to a manpower management framework. The 22 rate of recruitment will slow down over the next few years, in line with the slower growth in the overall local workforce. Given the many new demands on the SPF, whether it is to deal with the terrorist threat, cybercrime or transnational organised crime - it is important that we continue to recruit the best officers that we can within the manpower cap. It is also important that we make the best use of the Police Officers that we have: by developing new concepts of operations, make smarter use of technology and invest in the training and development of our officers. We are currently in the midst of re-designing our Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs) as part of the new Community Policing System. We are studying how we can better use technology at the NPPs to provide round-the-clock automated services for residents, while allowing us to redeploy Police Officers away from the NPPs to more critical areas, such as patrols in the neighbourhoods. We will explore how to better position the NPPs as key nodes and rallying points for our community volunteer programmes such as SG Secure. There are currently no plans to increase the total number of NPPs but there may be relocation of some NPPs as the population shifts to new housing estates. Back to Contents ENSURING COMMUTER SAFETY DURING POWER OUTAGES AND TRAIN BREAKDOWNS

57 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport what are the safety measures in place during MRT breakdowns to ensure that (i) commuters will not be trapped in darkness during a power failure occurring either in the tunnels or elsewhere on the track during night-time; and (ii) commuters will not be endangered when required to walk along LRT/MRT tracks during breakdowns.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Every MRT and LRT station is equipped with an independent backup power supply that provides basic lighting in the tunnels and stations during a power failure. This backup power supply also keeps critical systems such as signalling, communications and platform screen doors functioning. All our trains are equipped with backup batteries to power emergency lighting, ventilation fans and the public address system. If passengers need to be de-trained, the operators have to follow strict safety procedures. They must ensure that traction power is switched off for the affected stretch, so that no trains will 23 move into and within the sector. Trains will also be held at adjoining stations as an immediate measure to further isolate that stretch. The operators will then deploy their staff to the stalled train to guide and assist passengers back to the station via the walkway. The train operators, together with LTA and SCDF, conduct regular exercises to ensure that the staff are adequately trained and prepared to handle such contingencies safely and effectively. Back to Contents COMMUNICATION OF INFORMATION ABOUT SAFETY AND EMERGENCY FEATURES TO COMMUTERS

58 Assoc Prof Randolph Tan asked the Minister for Transport whether public transport operators are required to ensure that information about safety and emergency features of public facilities are effectively communicated to public transport users.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Under the rail and bus licences, LTA requires the operators to ensure that commuters are adequately informed about transport safety and emergency facilities and procedures. Information is currently disseminated through the use of prominent signs, as well as regular announcements and videos at train stations, bus interchanges and on board trains and buses. We are reviewing the Bukit Panjang LRT incident to see if more needs to be done in this regard. Back to Contents GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AWARDED TO LOCAL AND FOREIGN ENGINEERING COMPANIES

59 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Finance (a) in the last three years, how many Government construction projects have been awarded to local engineering companies and how many to foreign contractors for projects above $200 million; and (b) how many of these contracts have been awarded to the lowest tenderers.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam: The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) operates a Contractors Registration System which registers construction companies under various work categories and financial grades. All construction companies must be registered to qualify for the award of public tenders. This means that construction companies are first pre- 24 qualified to ensure they meet certain standards before they can be awarded government contracts. In general, higher value construction contracts require companies to meet higher standards in terms of financial capacity, technical capability of the company and its personnel, company certifications and relevant track record. For example, companies bidding for construction contracts above $200 million will only compete amongst other companies which have attained similar or higher technical and financial standards. For construction contracts above $200 million awarded in the last three years, two-thirds were awarded to the lowest price bidder. As a signatory to the World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-GPA) and various Free Trade Agreements, Singapore is required to ensure fair competition and non-discrimination between foreign or local suppliers. Our procurement regime is therefore an open one where suppliers compete based on their ability to meet tender requirements regardless of nationality. This applies also to competition to be on the prequalification list that I just referred to. For these reasons, BCA does not track the nationality of the ultimate owners of companies awarded tenders. Back to Contents

INCREASING SINGAPORE'S ORGAN TRANSPLANT RATE

60 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Health (a) whether Singapore's organ transplant rate has increased since the launch of the "Live On" campaign in 2008; (b) how does the rate compare with those of other countries with similar quality of life; (c) whether there is adequate training of and buy-in from doctors in intensive care and emergency units to improve the organ retrieval rate; and (d) whether a review of the opt-out system and consideration of the mandated consent system is now timely.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: The Ministry of Health adopts a multi-pronged approach to promote and facilitate organ transplants. The Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) (MTERA) was enacted in 1972 to facilitate donation of deceased organs and tissues for the purposes of transplantation, education or research. The Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) was introduced in 1987 to facilitate deceased organ donation through an opt-out scheme. HOTA was subsequently expanded in 2004 to include heart, liver, corneas, as transplantable organs (instead 25 of only kidneys) and institute a framework to regulate living donor organ transplants. Dedicated public awareness efforts were also made to educate the public of the life-saving benefits of organ donation. In 2008, MOH launched a three year "Live On" campaign aimed at raising societal consciousness and acceptance of organ donation as an acceptable and generous act of goodness. These efforts have helped to bring about close to 2,000 transplants from deceased organ donations between 2004 and 2015. These included 442 kidney, 157 liver, 42 heart and 1,333 cornea transplants. Over the same period, there were 478 living donor organ transplants. These included 379 kidney and 99 liver living donor organ transplants. Specifically from 2008 after the launch of the "Live On" campaign, we observed an increase in the number of organ transplant conducted, from an average of 174 cases per year between 2004 and 2007 to 220 cases per year between 2008 and 2015. While more patients had benefited from organ transplants through these efforts, there is still room to further improve the organ transplant rate in Singapore. Singapore’s combined (both deceased and living) organ transplant rate for kidney was 20 per million population (pmp) in 2015. While our rate is higher than that of some developed countries such as Japan (at 13 pmp) and Hong Kong (at 11 pmp), it is lower than Australia (at 40 pmp) and the United Kingdom (at 49 pmp). Deceased organ donation is not only a complex medical process, but also a highly emotive and sensitive issue. Our doctors and healthcare staff are trained to be empathetic and considerate in attending to the grieving families. There are clinical protocols as well as ethical guidelines in place to facilitate the deceased organ donation process at the public hospitals. These ensure that the organ donation process is carried out in a timely, appropriate, and dignified manner, with family members constantly informed and attended to. MOH supports the regular training of doctors and healthcare staff involved in organ donation and a large part of the training focuses on the skills required in communicating sensitively and empathetically with family members. Improving organ donation goes beyond the roles played by the hospitals and healthcare staff. Social attitude and culture also play an important role. MOH will continue to promote greater awareness of organ donation and facilitate shifts in societal attitudes and views towards organ donation. As a follow-up to the "Live On" Campaign, MOH will be launching a new outreach campaign in the upcoming months on organ donation. Other efforts include expanding 26 the training of more healthcare professionals on organ donation, working with doctors to raise organ failure patients’ awareness in considering living organ transplant as a treatment option, and encouraging individuals to share their decisions on organ donations with their loved ones. This will help their family members to understand and respect their decisions. Associate Professor Daniel Goh asked if it is timely for the Ministry to review the existing 'opt-out' consent model under the HOTA, and instead consider the ‘mandated choice’ policy, where individuals are required to indicate their preferences on organ donation while interacting with the Government on other matters. We understand that some countries have experimented with the 'mandated choice' policy with varying outcomes. Some states in the USA such as Montana and Illinois have adopted the mandated consent system with some success. However, other US states such as Texas, as well as Australia, eventually abandoned their mandated choice policy and reverted to an 'opt-in' consent model. It is not clear whether a mandated choice policy would have enhanced our organ donation rate. We need to study this carefully, taking into account the local context. Nonetheless, we will continue to reach out and encourage Singaporeans to support organ donation. Their gift will go a long way towards saving lives and easing the suffering of patients with organ failure. Back to Contents REASONS FOR RECENT OCCURRENCE OF A CLUSTER OF TUBERCULOSIS CASES

61 Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for Health whether the recent occurrence of a cluster of tuberculosis cases is of alarming concern and whether he can provide an update on the reason for such occurrence.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Tuberculosis is usually spread by prolonged close contact with infected persons. The recent cluster, where a few cases of the same TB strain were discovered among residents of a single housing block, was highly unusual, as the TB Control Unit has so far not been able to uncover where some of the residents concerned could have had close interactions. As a precautionary measure, MOH worked with grassroots leaders to conduct TB screening for past and current residents of the block. Two of the residents screened had signs of 27 active TB, are undergoing treatment, and are no longer infectious. Residents who had latent TB are not infectious, and the vast majority (9 in 10) of them will not develop active TB in their lifetime. We have advised them on the TB symptoms to look out for, and to report to the TB Control Unit for medical review if they develop such symptoms. Early detection and prompt treatment are essential to ensure effective control of TB infections. Back to Contents ESTATE UPGRADING PROGRAMME FOR PRIVATE ESTATES

63 Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the current status of the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) for private estates; (b) what are the considerations taken into account in deciding on EUP projects; and (c) how does the Government allocate resources between public and private estate upgrading and maintenance.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Since the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) was launched in 2000, MND has selected 63 private estates through nine batches of EUP, benefitting more than 46,000 households. We are currently working out the implementation plan for Batch 9 of the EUP. For Batch 10, MND will invite nominations from the Citizens’ Consultative Committees (CCCs) when we have a firm timeline to implement this. In selecting estates for EUP, we consider the age and physical conditions of the estate. We prioritise the older estates, which have greater need and more opportunities for significant improvement through the upgrading works. On average, around seven estates are selected in each EUP batch. The Government is committed to improving the infrastructure in both public and private estates. The pace of upgrading would depend on the resources and industry capacity available. MND also has to coordinate with other Government agencies planning upgrading works to minimise inconvenience to the residents. Back to Contents

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CO-ORDINATION OF WORKS REQUIRED FOR TELEPHONY, GAS AND UTILITIES SUPPLY SERVICES UNDER ESTATE UPGRADING PROGRAMME

64 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for National Development what measures are undertaken under the Estate Upgrading Programme for private estates to better co-ordinate and expedite the works performed by external partners providing telephony, gas supply and other such utilities.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Every effort is made to co-ordinate and expedite the various types of work performed under the Estate Upgrading Programme. Attempts are made to coordinate EUP improvement works with other public works like drainage upgrading by PUB. For drainage upgrading in particular, this sometimes involves temporary disruptions to telecommunications, electrical and gas services. To minimise these disruptions, PUB engages residents prior to commencement of the works, while maintaining close coordination with external service providers. PUB also updates residents on the progress of the works. From time to time, external service providers may carry out road works like laying telecommunication lines, gas pipes or electrical cables. These service providers will have to seek LTA’s prior approval. If these providers have works along the same stretch of road, LTA will facilitate coordination between the parties and require them to stage their works sequentially. When the last party has completed its works, the affected stretch of road will then be properly resurfaced. This arrangement speeds up the entire process and minimises road occupation and inconvenience to road users and residents. I want to assure Members that for EUP construction projects, both PUB and LTA are involved in the EUP coordination meetings. The BCA/EUP consultant as the overall project coordinator, would then be alerted of other works affecting the project, and coordinate with the relevant parties on the works. I hope Members understand that while we aim to minimise inconvenience to residents, there will always be some level of dis-amenity and inconvenience while the works are in progress. Back to Contents

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MANDATORY AUTISM TESTING FOR BABIES

65 Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether there are plans to do mandatory testing for autism for babies from 18 to 24 months old so that early intervention can be arranged to mitigate or reverse the condition.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: Developmental paediatricians recommend that 2-3 years old is an optimal age range to diagnose moderate and severe forms of autism, as the symptoms may not be evident in children below that age. Milder cases of autism may not be diagnosed till the child is older. MOH issues every child born in Singapore with a Health Booklet that records their immunisation history and developmental screening progress. The Health Booklet includes developmental screening checklists at 4-8 weeks, 3-5 months, 6-12 months, 15-18 months, 2-3 years and 4-6 years. Red flags for developmental conditions, including autism, are incorporated in the screening checklists. Parents and caregivers would most likely be the first to realise if the child has developmental issues and can use the developmental milestones in the Health Booklet as reference points to guide them. In addition, when healthcare professionals such as doctors and nurses in the polyclinics, paediatricians and GPs detect delays in the child’s development during screenings and medical check-ups, they can refer the children to the Child Development Programme in KKH and NUH for diagnosis of developmental concerns. Parents who suspect that their children might be facing developmental delays can take their children to the nearest polyclinic, or the Department of Child Development (DCD) at KKH or NUH for assessment. Children who have been diagnosed with moderate to severe autism will be referred to the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) for early intervention services. Back to Contents HELP FOR GROWING COMPANIES AS WORKFORCE TIGHTENS

66 Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) in view of the ageing and shrinking of the local labour force and the tightening of foreign worker inflows, what are the Ministry's plans and measures to help local companies seeking to expand their business to do so. 30

Mr S Iswaran: The Government helps companies seeking to expand their business by supporting their innovation, productivity, and internationalisation efforts. Under the Automation Support Package (ASP), announced in Budget 2016, SPRING assists companies to undertake automation solutions by providing a grant of up to $1 million. SPRING also provides the Capability Development Grant (CDG) to support companies in building capabilities to innovate, enhance productivity and competitiveness. A*STAR and SPRING’s GET-Up Programme seconds senior research scientists and engineers (RSEs) from our universities, research institutes and polytechnics to SMEs. These senior RSEs help SMEs grow their business through innovation projects by enhancing their access to technologies and expertise. IE Singapore helps SMEs to internationalise through the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) grant and Global Company Partnership (GCP). These programmes help to accelerate the international expansion and support the development of capabilities to venture into new markets. We are also developing Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) for over 20 sectors. These ITMs comprise growth and competitiveness plans for both domestically-oriented sectors (such as construction, food services, and retail) as well as export-oriented sectors (like hotels, logistics, food manufacturing, and precision engineering). These will include the programmes to upgrade productivity, develop skills, promote technology adoption & innovation, and help companies expand overseas. These efforts also require deep partnerships with Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs). For instance, IE Singapore has partnered the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) to launch a Singapore Enterprise Centre in Shanghai. The Centre helps our SMEs venture into China by providing one-to-one advisory, organising business events, and sharing market information and business leads. We will also work with TACs on Collaborative Industry Projects (TAC-CIP) seeking scalable solutions to industry-specific productivity and innovation needs. Back to Contents TAKE-UP RATE FOR PARTNERSHIPS FOR CAPABILITY TRANSFORMATION SCHEME

67 Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) (a) 31 what is the take-up rate of the Partnerships for Capability Transformation (PACT) scheme designed to encourage large companies to help their local SME suppliers to upgrade their capabilities; and (b) whether there are plans to improve and enhance this scheme.

Mr S Iswaran: The PACT scheme, administered by EDB and SPRING, supports partnerships between large enterprises and SMEs by upgrading suppliers’ capabilities through the sourcing and qualification process. The scheme has helped locally-based suppliers enter growth industries such as aerospace, medical technology and semiconductor equipment. For instance, PACT has enabled locally-based suppliers to get onto the approved vendor lists of large enterprises through supplier qualification. EDB and SPRING have supported close to 130 PACT projects since 2010, from which over 700 Singapore-based suppliers have benefited. Over 650 of the 700 suppliers are local SMEs. The Government has continually reviewed the PACT scheme to ensure its relevance. In 2013, the scheme was expanded to cover new sectors such as food manufacturing, printing, retail, food services. At the same time, PACT was enhanced to support productivity improvements, knowledge transfer and test-bedding of innovative solutions. In 2015, the scheme was further extended to cover a broader spectrum of co-innovation activities, to include joint product development between the large enterprise and the supplier at the proof-of-concept stage. The Government will continue to monitor and review how the scheme can be further enhanced to support our local SMEs. Back to Contents STANDARDISED INTERNAL PROCESSES FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN MONITORING AND HANDLING POTENTIAL ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING CASES

69 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Prime Minister (a) whether the recently-announced dedicated Anti-Money Laundering (AML) department within MAS will standardise internal processes in all financial institutions with regard to monitoring and handling potential AML cases; and (b) in what ways will the enforcement functions of the new Enforcement Department be strengthened and how will these differ from past practice.

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Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (for the Prime Minister): The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has in place strict anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) rules for the financial sector. They are closely aligned with international standards. The rules require financial institutions to conduct robust “know-your-customer” (KYC) checks, monitor customers’ transactions on an ongoing basis, and file suspicious transaction reports with the Commercial Affairs Department when suspicious activities are detected. The task at hand is therefore not about imposing more or stricter rules, but strengthening the financial sector’s implementation of existing regulatory requirements. The recently established AML Department within MAS will consolidate and enhance our AML/CFT supervisory resources. It will provide a dedicated supervisory focus with regard to financial institutions’ compliance with MAS’ AML/CFT rules and raising industry standards. This consolidated function will engage actively with the industry to share perspectives on emerging money laundering and terrorism financing risks and typologies, as well as best practices in AML/CFT controls. It will also conduct more frequent, focused inspections of financial institutions identified as facing higher risks in this area. MAS will take regulatory actions against those financial institutions whose AML/CFT practices fall short of the expected standards. MAS will also make public its sanctions against persistently or egregiously errant financial institutions. While certain responsibilities such as robust KYC checks are common to all financial institutions, it is not possible to standardise AML/CFT frameworks, systems and processes. This is because different financial activities and institutions vary with regard to the nature of the business and their customer bases, and consequently face different money laundering and terrorism financing risks. The risk management systems and controls adopted by a financial institution should therefore be suited to its business and commensurate with its risk profile. With a financial centre that comprises more than 1,500 financial institutions, it is not possible to prevent regulatory breaches and misconduct, even with intrusive supervision. A strong enforcement capability is hence necessary to investigate and take swift action where there are breaches of the law. Enforcement helps shape the behaviour of market participants, by deterring unethical behaviour and complacency. The new Enforcement Department consolidates the current resources and expertise within 33

MAS that is devoted to the investigation of breaches in the rules and regulations administered by MAS. The Department will expand its ambit beyond capital markets misconduct offences, to include the banking and insurance sectors. It will co-ordinate efforts with MAS supervisors in various sectors within the financial industry, to detect and investigate serious lapses or instances of misconduct. The Enforcement Department will also aggregate and review different pools of information from across different financial sectors to anticipate risks, identify patterns, and investigate potential misconduct and market abuses. The Department is stepping up the use of data analytics to enhance market surveillance, to help identify potential market misconduct and investigate specific offences. Together, the new departments will enhance MAS’ ability to anticipate, detect and investigate serious regulatory breaches, as well as tackle money laundering and terrorist financing risks as they continue to evolve. Back to Contents IMPACT OF PRIVATE-HIRE CAR COMPANIES' DEMANDS ON COE PREMIUMS

70 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Transport (a) how much has the aggressive bidding for COEs by private-hire car companies such as Uber and Grab affected demand and contributed to COE premium increases; (b) what is the reason for LTA's recent block of free access to bidders' information; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider creating a separate COE category for private-hire vehicles.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Since March this year, there has been an increase in the number of COE bids submitted by car rental companies, including those associated with private hire car services. Notwithstanding this, if we ignore the one-off increase in COE premiums after the loan regulations were eased in May this year, the market has remained relatively stable. Category A and B COE premiums fluctuated only within a narrow band of $3,000 over this period. This is because it is not the number of bids per se, but how aggressively these bids are priced, that drives COE premiums up. So far, car rental companies do not seem to have been bidding very aggressively. 34

The bid enquiry function on LTA’s online COE bidding system is meant for bidders to access information on their own bids. It was never meant to be a means for people to pry into the bids of others. In response to feedback to better protect bidders’ privacy, LTA now requires company bidders to enter an acknowledgement code that is known only to them, after which they can access their own bidding information. Currently, privately-owned cars can be converted into private hire cars and vice versa, unlike taxis. If we create a separate COE category for private hire cars, we may have to disallow such conversion. This will limit the flexibility of the private hire car market to the detriment of commuters and of private hire car service providers. On the other hand, if we allow such conversion flexibility, it may lead to gaming and distortion of the COE market. LTA will continue to monitor the COE market and look further into this issue as needed. Back to Contents INCLUSION OF CPF CONTRIBUTION IN CALCULATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT AFFORDABILITY

71 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport why has employers' CPF contribution been added to the calculation of household income in the Ministry's key performance indicator of public transport affordability as set out in the FY2016/17 Budget Book.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: We use the findings in the Department of Statistics’ Household Expenditure Survey to calculate public transport affordability. The survey is conducted only once every five years. In the intervening years, we adjust the findings in the last available survey by the subsequent annual changes in national wages and public transport fares. The last available Household Expenditure Survey was in 2014. In the survey, employer CPF contributions were included in the computation of household incomes. Accordingly, the public transport affordability performance indicator in the FY2016/17 Budget Book also used household income with employer CPF contributions. Removing the CPF contributions from the computation does not alter the fact that public transport affordability has improved. Public transport expenditure as a component of second quintile household income fell from 2.5% in 2010 to 2.2% in 2015 if we include employer CPF contributions, and from 2.8% to 2.4% over the same period if we exclude employer CPF contributions. 35

Back to Contents STUDENT DROP-OUT RATE AFTER COMPLETION OF PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION

73 Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Acting Minister for Education (Schools) (a) in the past five years, how many students have dropped out of secondary school after completing their primary school education; and (b) what has been done to encourage these students to continue their secondary education.

Mr Ng Chee Meng: Our schools closely monitor students’ progression and their completion of secondary school education. The overall proportion of each Primary 1 cohort who dropped out at the secondary level has remained low, at less than 1% in the last five years. Schools have done well to keep the number of dropouts low over the years. To engage students in their studies and motivate them to learn and grow, our schools proactively build caring and supportive environments. They put in place programmes that enhance the quality of school experience for students. They also provide good pastoral care, Education and Career Guidance, and Character and Citizenship Education that help students learn, grow and develop a desire to lead a purposeful life and make informed choices about their future pathways. Schools closely monitor students at risk of dropping out and put in place intervention measures to support them. For example, schools organise the Time Out Programme, which provides enhanced guidance and support for at-risk students who are disengaged in schooling. Students are taken out of their regular classes and provided with a customised programme that aims to rekindle their desire to learn, and help them develop goals and purpose in their educational journey. The programme also helps them to cope with and overcome any personal, family or social problems that they might be faced with, before they rejoin their regular classes. MOE provides additional support to schools to strengthen the engagement of and support for students. This includes counsellors and Student Welfare Officers who help students with school attendance issues and motivate them to return to schools. Despite all efforts to engage our students and keep them in schools, some students still drop out of schools, and the reasons for their dropping out are complex. MOE thus taps on the expertise and networks of relevant agencies such as Central Youth Guidance Office, MSF, 36

MHA, SPF, CNB, Self-Help Groups, Family Service Centres and Voluntary Welfare Organisations to support at-risk students. Parents are an essential partner in supporting the efforts of schools. They help to instil and reinforce the right values in our students, and provide support and encouragement to them. Schools will continue to engage parents through various platforms and partner them to support their child’s needs. Back to Contents MEANS TESTING FOR MEDIFUND ACROSS RESTRUCTURED HOSPITALS AND SPECIALIST CENTRES

75 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Health (a) in the last three years, what proportion of Medifund recipients visit more than one public restructured hospital or public specialist centre in the same year; (b) what proportion of such recipients require more than one means test to qualify for Medifund across the restructured hospitals and specialist centres that they visit; and (c) to what extent are medical social worker records portable across restructured hospitals and specialist centres so as to expedite means testing for needy patients.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Medifund provides help for needy patients who require additional financial assistance with their healthcare bills after Government subsidies, MediShield Life claims and Medisave withdrawals. Over the last three years, about one in five Medifund recipients visited more than one public hospital or national specialty centre in a year. Eligibility for Medifund is determined by the Medifund Committee in each healthcare institution, based on assessment by medical social workers. Today, medical social workers across public healthcare institutions share information with one another in cases where the patient is known to require financial assistance across institutions. Medifund assistance is also extended to needy patients on the Public Assistance scheme, without requiring them to go through additional means-testing. MOH and the public healthcare institutions have been working on sharing of medical social worker case records. For example, under SingHealth’s One Medifund Assessment initiative which Dr Tan had spearheaded while he was working at the National Cancer Centre, Medifund patients only need to be assessed once at any of the SingHealth institutions. Last year, medical social workers across all public healthcare institutions also undertook a comprehensive 37 review to streamline the Medifund assessment process and improve information sharing. The intent is to make it more convenient for Medifund patients who visit more than one institution, while allowing the Medifund Committee of each institution to continue having flexibility to decide on individual cases. Back to Contents TENDER EVALUATION METHOD IN PROCUREMENT OF MANPOWER SERVICES AT RESTRUCTURED HOSPITALS AND INSTITUTIONS

76 Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry exercises oversight of the tender evaluation method in the procurement of manpower services or outsourced services in the restructured hospitals and institutions; (b) whether these contracts comply with the Price-Quality Method (PQM) of evaluation with 70% allotted to quality and 30% allotted to price; and (c) what is the minimum duration and percentage of such contracts that conform to PQM out of the total awarded tenders in the last three years.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: The procurement policies in our public healthcare institutions are guided by the same principles as those in the Singapore Public Service - transparency of process, open and fair competition, so as to secure best value for money. Our institutions also take reference from national advisories such as the Tripartite Advisory on Best Sourcing Practices. As long as these principles and advisories are observed, our institutions have the flexibility to design their procurement and tender evaluation processes. Therefore, while all our public healthcare institutions use the Price-Quality Method (PQM) to evaluate tender proposals, the emphasis on quality and price will differ depending on the nature, type and complexity of services being procured. For example, the weightage of quality used in the evaluation for manpower and outsourced services procurement is typically 60% to 80%. Where there is less need for differentiation in the quality of products and services being contracted, the price component may be weighted higher. Similarly, the duration of the contracts also vary. For multi-year contracts, some institutions make provisions for annual salary increment and performance bonus for manpower deployed. Outsourced workers in our public healthcare institutions such as cleaners, housekeepers, porters, and security guards are important partners in delivering good healthcare service. We recognise and value their contributions and will continue to bear this in mind in the 38 way we tender for their services. Back to Contents REVIEW OF RICE STOCKPILE SCHEME GIVEN EXTREME WEATHER CHANGES

77 Mr Chen Show Mao asked the Minister for National Development whether the Rice Stockpile Scheme and other measures under Singapore's Food Security Roadmap are robust enough to withstand climatic events such as the 2015-16 El Niño and associated drought and heatwave that have affected crop outputs in Thailand, Vietnam, India and elsewhere in Southeast and South Asia.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Under the Food Security Roadmap, import source diversification is a core strategy to strengthen our food supply resilience. By importing from various sources both far and near, we can minimise impact of climatic events in any source location on Singapore’s overall food supply. For instance, despite unfavourable weather conditions in Malaysia earlier this year, import quantities and prices of leafy vegetables have been relatively stable as traders were able to switch to other sources such as China. Local production of key food items such as eggs, leafy vegetables, and fish complements our source diversification strategy. AVA supports our farmers in their efforts to expand their food production capabilities, for example through the implementation of controlled-environment farming systems such as indoor farming that can protect our local production from adverse environment conditions. By raising farming productivity and ramping up local production in cost-effective ways, we can become more self-reliant in selected food items over time. Finally, besides diversification and local production, stockpiling can enhance food security in times of short-term shortage. The Government maintains a strategic rice stockpile, where importers are required to stockpile a certain proportion of commonly consumed rice varieties, such as White Rice. This buffers against supply disruptions. Back to Contents EMPLOYMENT OF STAY-AT-HOME MOTHERS IN PUBLIC SECTOR

81 Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Prime Minister (a) whether the public sector hires or engages stay-at-home mothers (not staff who go on flexible work arrangements); (b) if 39 no, whether the public sector agencies can engage them for selected categories of work which stay-at-home mothers can perform from home; and (c) if yes, how many stay-at-home mothers are currently hired in the public sector.

Mr (for the Prime Minister): Public service agencies offer a range of freelancing opportunities, from administration to research. Stay-at-home mothers with the relevant skills can apply for such work. However, we are unable to gauge their numbers among successful applicants as their family status is not a criteria for job selection. Beyond freelancing opportunities, public service agencies also offer mothers long-term careers. Where the nature of the jobs allow, mothers may apply to work on a part-time basis or telecommute from home. As at the end of 2015, about 5% of mothers working in the civil service are on part-time arrangements. An internal survey also showed that about one quarter of respondents who are mothers have telecommuted, including 10% who do so at least once a fortnight. Back to Contents PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER'S VOCATIONAL LICENCE FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS AND WORK PERMIT HOLDERS

83 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport why are permanent residents and work permit holders allowed to apply for a Private Hire Driver's Vocational Licence (PDVL).

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Today, traditional limousine companies and car rental companies employ Permanent Residents and work pass holders as drivers. Work pass holders are subject to work pass conditions stipulated by the Ministry of Manpower. They provide chauffeured services that can be chartered for trips like airport transfers and ferrying of VIPs at events. In order to not disrupt traditional limousine companies and car rental companies when the new regulatory regime is implemented, these Permanent Residents and work pass holders will also be able to apply for the Private Hire Car Driver Vocational Licence. However, Permanent Residents and work pass holders can only provide chauffeured services in the course of their employment under these car rental or limousine companies. This is unlike for Singaporeans, who can be Uber or GrabCar drivers as long as they are sole proprietors of a chauffeured services company. As we 40 understand it, there are no work pass holders driving for Uber or Grab today. Back to Contents LOWERING THRESHOLD FOR PERMISSIBLE NOISE FROM VEHICLES AT EXPRESSWAYS NEAR RESIDENTIAL AREAS

84 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether LTA is ready to install noise barriers along expressways such as BKE and KJE which are very close to high density public housing at Bukit Panjang; and (b) whether LTA will look into lowering the threshold of permissible noise level emitted from motor vehicles on expressways that are near residential housing.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: LTA’s trial installations of noise barriers for roads will be completed by the end of this year. If effective, we will prioritise their installation at locations based on noise level and proximity to residential housing. The Land Transport Authority follows vehicular noise emission standards set and regulated by the National Environment Agency, and these are aligned with international norms. Back to Contents PREVENTING YOUTHS FROM PURCHASING SEXUAL SERVICES

85 Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked the Acting Minister for Education (Schools) whether it has plans to address the increasing trend of youths purchasing sexual services in Singapore and abroad.

Mr Ng Chee Meng: Recent newspaper reports based on a study on adolescents having sex with sex workers in Singapore may have given the mis-impression that there is an increasing trend for all youths. The study did not demonstrate such a trend and was not designed to do so. The participants for the study were adolescents seeking treatment at the Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Clinic. It was not a time-trend study of a representative sample of the youth population in Singapore. Nonetheless, the issue raised by the member and the study about youth sexuality are important, and should be taken seriously. MOE’s current Sexuality Education programme already has elements to mitigate youth paying for sexual services. The programme seeks to equip all students with knowledge, skills and 41 attitudes to a. understand their physiological, social and emotional changes as they mature; b. develop healthy and rewarding relationships; and c. make wise, informed and responsible decisions on sexuality matters. This includes information about Sexuality Transmitted Infections and how one can be protected from them. Schools also provide additional support, such as one-to-one counselling, to students at risk of sexual experimentation or are already engaging in sexual activity. As parents play a key role in sexuality education, schools will also engage parents to discuss joint intervention plans. Where required, schools will engage community partners and external agencies with specialised expertise. Back to Contents TAKE-UP RATE BY STUDENTS FOR SPANISH AS THIRD LANGUAGE

86 Mr Darryl David asked the Acting Minister for Education (Schools) whether Spanish is offered as a third language option to students in our schools and, if so, what is the take-up rate of Spanish as compared to the other third language options.

Mr Ng Chee Meng: Spanish was introduced in 2014 as one of the foreign languages available to eligible students. Currently, about 100 students would offer Spanish as a third language each year at Secondary 1. This intake level is typical of foreign languages that are newly introduced. The Secondary 1 intake size for other foreign languages varies, ranging from about 240 for German to about 550 for Japanese. Back to Contents INCREASING PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PENALTIES TO ENCOURAGE HEAVY VEHICLE DRIVERS TO USE CORRECT LANES

87 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what are the measures taken to educate drivers, especially of large heavy vehicles, to occupy the most appropriate lane based on their legislated speed limit; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider (i) imposing stiffer penalties on errant drivers of vehicles with legislated speed limit and on their companies if found speeding or driving at the wrong lanes (ii) having greater enforcement on errant drivers who 42 flout speeding limits (iii) introducing the speed limiter blinking lights for vehicles with legislated speed limits and (iv) having a more rigorous course for drivers, especially work permit holders, assigned to drive heavy vehicles.

Mr K Shanmugam: The Traffic Police (TP) adopts a three-pronged strategy of education, engagement and enforcement, to promote safe driving by Heavy Vehicle drivers. On driver education, learner drivers, including those who drive heavy vehicles, are taught to occupy the most appropriate lane as part of the driving school syllabus. Heavy vehicle drivers go through a more rigorous course than other drivers in order to obtain their licence. One must have a Class 3 Driving Licence to apply for a Class 4 Licence, and have a Class 4 Licence to apply for a Class 5 Licence. Beyond the basic driving courses, employers are encouraged to send their heavy vehicle drivers for refresher or defensive driving courses offered by the driving schools. TP regularly engages heavy vehicle drivers on road safety and good driving practices. In 2016, TP partnered stakeholders, including vehicle inspection centres like VICOM, merchant associations, the Workplace Safety & Health Council, and the Ministry of Manpower to carry out an outreach campaign to educate heavy vehicle drivers. TP maintains a tough enforcement stance against errant drivers who flout speed limits and other traffic rules. In addition to fixed speed cameras, from early this year TP deployed mobile speed cameras and new police speed laser cameras to enhance its enforcement at speeding hotspots. Heavy vehicle drivers currently face stiffer penalties for traffic offences as compared to other drivers. Heavy vehicle drivers caught exceeding the speed limit by up to 40 kilometres per hour will be given fines ranging from $160 to $200 and 4 to 8 demerit points. Heavy vehicle drivers caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 kilometres per hour will be charged in court and given 12 to 24 demerit points. In addition, all heavy vehicles with maximum laden weight exceeding 12 tonnes for goods vehicles and 10 tonnes for public service vehicles are required by law to be installed with speed limiters, which restrict their maximum speed to 60 kilometres per hour. Such vehicle owners are required to send their vehicles for annual inspections at registered vehicle inspection centres to ensure that the speed limiters are in working condition. Heavy vehicles with speed limiters are 43 also required to undergo additional speed limiter inspections, if these vehicles were caught speeding. Those caught tampering with their speed limiters can be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned up to three months, while repeat offenders can be fined up to $2,000 or imprisoned up to six months. TP and LTA are reviewing measures to further curb heavy vehicle traffic violations and will announce the changes in due course. Back to Contents REFERRAL BY PRIVATE GENERAL PRACTITIONERS OF NON- EMERGENCY CASES TO GOVERNMENT ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS

88 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the average percentage of patients referred by private GPs to Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments in Government hospitals and not warded; and (b) how can the Government better help such patients from being subjected to excessive medical charges as they would be billed by the GP and A&E Department for the same illness.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: In 2015, around 39,000 patients were referred by general practitioners (GPs) to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments of public hospitals. About 70% of them were not required to be warded after being assessed and treated by the A&E doctors. We should not assume that a patient who is not warded has been inappropriately referred by his GP. These patients may require further review or monitoring in the A&E setting. They may also require additional tests or treatment using specialised instruments that are not available at the GP clinics. For the large majority of patients, the A&E referrals by their GPs are appropriate for their medical conditions. Our Regional Health Systems and Restructured Hospitals will continue to work closely with their GP partners to provide good quality primary care, and to minimise the need for Singaporeans to seek treatment at acute hospitals. Back to Contents CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE RAMPS AT ENTRANCES TO OLD HDB 44

FLATS

90 Mr Ang Hin Kee asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider (i) allowing residents living in old HDB flats with multi-step entrances the option of renting portable ramps from HDB and complementing this option with retrofitting the flats with permanent ramps and (ii) decentralising the budget and approval process to the respective HDB Branch Offices or Community Development Councils with inputs from grassroots leaders for such initiatives to be rolled out.

Mr Lawrence Wong: As Mr Ang is aware, some older HDB flats built in the 1970s and 1980s were designed with multiple-stepped entrances to offer more privacy and added security for occupants of the flats. However, with an ageing population, elderly residents and wheelchair users in these units may now face difficulties negotiating the steps. HDB has been studying this issue carefully. Any solution will likely have to be customised to the flat configuration, corridor space availability and the residents’ needs, without posing maintenance issues or obstructing the fire escape route. Different solutions will likely be needed for flats with different locational conditions, and it may not be practical for HDB to stock up and rent out ramps. Nonetheless, HDB will take the Member’s suggestion into consideration in its ongoing study. When we have developed the appropriate solutions, we could implement them as an expansion of EASE or through other programmes. HDB is exploring with other agencies/authorities the financial assistance that could be provided for low income families who may need such ramps or platforms. Meanwhile, residents who wish to engage a private vendor to install ramps today can approach the HDB Branches. HDB is exploring how to make it easier for residents to get the necessary approvals to install the ramps. Those who need financial assistance for the ramp installation may also approach VWOs or their Advisers for assistance. Back to Contents COMPLAINTS OF SECOND-HAND SMOKE FROM NEIGHBOURS AT HDB FLATS

91 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) 45 for the past five years, how many cases of feedback have been received each year from residents against other residents smoking at their own flat's window or common corridor being affected by the second-hand smoke; and (b) whether NEA has plans to address this issue.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: My Ministry’s long term goal is to prohibit smoking in all public areas to protect non-smokers from the harmful health effects of second-hand smoke. Since 2013, smoking has been prohibited in common areas within any residential developments, including common corridors, staircases and staircase landings of HDB and private residential developments. Those who smoke in the common corridors of residential buildings are liable to a maximum court fine of $1,000. In 2013, my Ministry received about 470 cases of feedback regarding smoking in residential premises. This decreased to about 420 cases in 2014 and 320 cases in 2015. In addition, there were about 2,500 cases of feedback on smoking in common corridors in 2013. This decreased to about 2,100 cases in 2014 and 2,000 cases in 2015. Smoking within one’s own residence, which is considered private, is not prohibited and beyond the Government's jurisdiction. Nonetheless, we recognise that second-hand smoke from residential premises can waft into neighbours’ residences. Smokers are thus encouraged to be socially responsible and considerate when smoking so as not to cause disamenities to their surroundings and neighbours. Where necessary, residents who are affected by smoke from their neighbours’ residences or common corridors can discuss and resolve the issue with their neighbours amicably or seek assistance from the Community Mediation Centre to facilitate constructive resolution of issues. Back to Contents

EXTENDING NON-SMOKING ZONES IN SELECTIVE PUBLIC AREAS IN PUNGGOL

92 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether NEA will consider extending the demarcation of non-smoking areas in selective public areas in Punggol that are outside of the list of smoke-free areas covered under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act so as to protect our children from secondhand smoke.

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Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Government’s long term goal is to prohibit smoking in all public areas to protect non-smokers from the harmful health effects of second-hand smoke. Since the implementation of the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act in 1970, the smoking prohibition has been progressively extended to more than 32,000 premises and locations including general areas such as playgrounds, corridors, covered walkways, lift lobbies, stairwells and entrances to buildings. From 1 June 2016, the smoking prohibition was extended, after taking into consideration views from the public, to cover areas such as neighbourhood parks within both public and private residential estates which are places likely to be frequented by families and children. It would not be appropriate for my Ministry to prescribe selective smoking-prohibited areas in specific constituencies outside of the list of areas covered under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act as this may result in confusion or inconsistency over the Government’s policy towards smoking prohibition in public places. Nonetheless, my Ministry will continue to take the public’s feedback into consideration as we look into further extending the smoking prohibition under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act. Back to Contents ENHANCING LAST-MILE CONNECTIVITY WITH SHELTERS TO LINK COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS TO MRT STATIONS AND BUS STOPS

93 Mr Darryl David asked the Minister for Transport whether further measures can be taken to enhance last-mile connectivity with regard to shelters that link private/commercial buildings and properties to bus stops and MRT stations.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Today, there are already 66 km of sheltered walkways connecting our public transport nodes to key amenities such as shopping malls, as well as to offices and residences. LTA is adding another 140km as part of its Walk2Ride programme. Furthermore, from 1 July 2016, private developers must submit a Walking and Cycling Plan when applying to URA for planning permission. This will ensure that they provide, where appropriate, for sheltered connections to bus stops and MRT stations in the design or redevelopment of their buildings. Back to Contents 47

PAY-AS-YOU-BID SYSTEM FOR COES

94 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Transport (a) what is the average price of the highest COE bid for vehicles in all the categories in the last three bidding exercises; (b) what is the average price of the winning COE bid in the same period; and (c) what are the considerations in not implementing a pay-as-you-bid system for COEs.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The average price of the winning COE bid in the last three bidding exercises was $52,601 for Category A, $57,167 for Category B, $48,694 for Category C, $6,173 for Category D, and $57,235 for Category E. The average of the highest COE bid, after removing outlier bids which were likely due to errors, was $64,296 for Category A, $79,629 for Category B, $60,967 for Category C, $10,000 for Category D, and $69,130 for Category E. This comparison, however, is not very meaningful. The vast majority of successful bids are clustered within 10% of the final strike price. The idea of a pay-as-you-bid system was last reviewed in 2013. Economists such as NTU professor Ng Yew Kwang, advised that a pay-as-you-bid system may not necessarily result in lower COE prices as clearing prices would still be determined by demand and supply. In addition, they pointed that a pay-as-you-bid system encourages gaming in that bidders will be constantly adjusting their bids in accordance with how they think others will bid, so that they do not end up over-paying. Market insiders will have a clear advantage. In contrast, the current COE auction system encourages a bidder to submit a single bid at the true price that he is willing to pay. This is simpler and fairer to car buyers who are less familiar with the market. Back to Contents

SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN IN MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS

95 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Acting Minister for Education (Schools) (a) what percentage of special needs children are currently receiving education in mainstream schools and in special education schools; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider building more special needs schools in housing areas with a higher proportion of children and hence a likely higher proportion of special needs children.

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Mr Ng Chee Meng: Students with special educational needs (SEN) are enrolled in both mainstream and Special Education (SPED) schools. Currently, there are about 18,000 students who have learning difficulties or mild special educational needs enrolled in mainstream schools, comprising about 75% of all students diagnosed with SEN. Those with moderate to severe SEN are supported in SPED schools run by Government-funded Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs). These schools are equipped with special facilities as well as specially trained teachers and allied professionals to meet the needs of their students who require a customised curriculum and specialised interventions. As part of the continual effort to meet the evolving needs of children with special needs and enhance the learning environment in SPED schools, MOE has over the years supported and funded the setting up of new SPED schools and the expansion of existing ones to enhance accessibility to quality SPED. The 20 Government-funded SPED schools run by VWOs collectively serve a range of disability profiles, and are organised primarily by disability types and the programmes they provide to meet the needs of their students. The SPED schools are geographically distributed across Singapore and the majority are currently located in public housing areas with access to public transport. MOE will continue to work closely with the VWOs in monitoring the SPED school vacancy and infrastructural situation to ensure that students with disabilities have timely access to SPED. Where there is a need for additional school campuses to cater to students with specific disabilities, we will continue to site them in locations where there is ease of access by students and their parents/care-givers. Back to Contents

PREVENTION OF SHOP THEFTS BY YOUTHS

96 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the general profile of youths caught for shop thefts; (b) what are the common reasons given by these youths for committing shop thefts; and (c) what are the targeted measures in place to address the root causes of shop thefts by youths.

Mr K Shanmugam: 838 youths were arrested in 2015 for shop theft. 58% of those 49 arrested were male and 74% were first-time offenders. The trend has remained roughly stable compared to previous years. These youths may have committed shop theft for a variety of reasons. Some did it for material gains, while others were influenced by peers. Youth crime, including shop theft, is a multi-faceted problem, and we need to tackle it on multiple fronts. Besides law enforcement agencies, schools, retailers, the social services sector, parents and youths themselves, all play a role in reducing youth crime. The National Committee on Youth Guidance and Rehabilitation (NYGR) was established in 1995 as an inter-agency committee to reduce juvenile delinquency and youth crime. Since its formation, the Committee has supported several developmental, prevention and rehabilitation programmes to reach out and help youths-at-risk. For example, parenting programmes organised by schools, Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs), grassroots organisations and community clubs help parents to discipline as well as instill the right values in their children. Police have been working with schools to raise awareness among youths on the consequences of committing crime. These efforts include school talks, crime prevention exhibitions and Youth Engagement Programmes (YEP), which engage at-risk students through meaningful activities such as soccer leagues. Police have also enhanced their crime prevention outreach using more interactive modes. One example is the installation of interactive touch-screen game panels at bus stops near youth congregation areas like the ‘Scape’ youth park, to spread anti-shop theft messages to our youths. Back to Contents

RE-DESIGNING HOME TEAM JOBS (Allowing Home Team officers to be productive even in later years)

97 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Home Affairs how are Home Team departments re-designing their jobs so that Home Team officers' efforts can be more productive and older officers can continue to be productive even in their later years.

Mr K Shanmugam: The Home Team works in a dynamic operating environment. We face evolving threats and challenges which require us to develop new concepts of operations and capabilities. There are also new opportunities presented by innovation and advances in 50 technology. We therefore regularly review and re-design our jobs in the Home Team to ensure they remain relevant in supporting our mission. For example, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has redesigned the job of the Fire Rescue Specialist. Their Fire Rescue Specialists are now dual-trained in both fire-fighting skills and emergency medical technician (EMT) skills. With the EMT skills, our fire fighters can also attend quickly to victims of fire and trauma incidents. This allows SCDF the flexibility of deploying a single set of personnel for both fire and rescue and improves the overall effectiveness of its operations. Our fire fighters benefit as well. They are now equipped with a wider range of professional skills. The Home Team also leverages innovation and technology to increase the productivity of our officers. For example, the Police Coast Guard (PCG) is exploring the use of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) to carry out localised surveillance patrols, project presence and intercept intruding vessels to enhance its response capabilities. With the use of USVs, the focus of PCG officers will be on critical maritime functions such as conducting anti-smuggling checks on vessels, without compromising security coverage and control of our waters. The Home Team values the experience, skills and knowledge of our officers. The development of our officers is therefore a key priority, in particular to help them take on new roles and re-designed jobs effectively, In addition, we have also taken steps to retrain and redeploy older officers. For instance, in the Singapore Prisons Service (SPS), older officers with their wealth of knowledge are re-trained to take up new roles as Reintegration Officers to supervise offenders after their release into the community. Job redesign is an on-going effort to ensure our jobs remain relevant and challenging and to enable Home Team officers to contribute effectively. This way, the Home Team can continue to keep Singapore safe and secure. Back to Contents USING FORENSICS DATA ANALYSIS TO CURB RECALCITRANT HIGH- RISE LITTERING CULPRITS

101 Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether forensics such as DNA analysis can be made use of to identify recalcitrant high-rise littering culprits so as to curb such highly anti-social behaviours. 51

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: High-rise littering is an anti-social and serious offence that dirties the environment and poses safety hazards to the public. Forensics such as DNA analysis may provide evidence that a person has had contact with a particular piece of litter thrown but this does not directly prove the act of littering. Further investigation would still be necessary to establish the identity of the high-rise littering culprit and prove that the person had indeed thrown the litter. It may also be challenging to extract DNA samples from litter that has been exposed to weather elements. Nonetheless, my Ministry is exploring the possibility of using DNA forensics in our enforcement against high-rise littering and will study if there are situations where such technology may be of use. My Ministry has deployed surveillance cameras in areas with persistent high-rise littering to catch high-rise litterbugs in the act since 2012. When a particular unit from which items have been thrown has been identified, the owner of the unit will be compelled by law to furnish information on the identities of the occupants for our further investigation and necessary enforcement action. More than 2,400 enforcements have been taken against high-rise littering offenders since we started camera deployments in 2012. The Government takes a serious view of high-rise littering. We will, as far as practicable, continue to adopt the necessary measures and technology to tackle high-rise littering to secure the conviction of high-rise litterbugs. Back to Contents EASING CONGESTION AND TRAFFIC BOTTLENECKS ON KPE

102 Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Transport whether there are measures in place to ease congestion and allow for smoother traffic at the KPE as the morning traffic is very heavy due to the bottleneck created by queues of cars exiting to Airport Road.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: LTA will adjust traffic light timings at some of the junctions along Airport Road to help ease the congestion at this exit. We have increased the capacity of the North-East MRT Line and also introduced more bus services in the northeast, and would encourage motorists to switch to public transport. Back to Contents

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NUMBER OF OFFENDERS ARRESTED FOR LOAN SHARKING AND ILLEGAL MONEY LENDING ACTIVITIES

104 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Home Affairs for each of the past five years, what has been (i) the number of loan shark harassment cases reported (ii) the number of offenders who have been arrested for offences relating to loan shark harassment and illegal money lending activities and charged in court and (iii) the number of offenders who have been sentenced to imprisonment and caning respectively.

Mr K Shanmugam: UML-related cases registered a 10-year low in 2015. There were 4,862 UML cases reported in 2015. These include UML harassment cases, as well as other UML-related cases, for instance, carrying on or assisting in a UML business. This was a 25.8% reduction when compared to 2014. The number of cases has come down substantially, to about a quarter of the cases reported at the peak in 2009 when there were 18,649 cases. The number of persons arrested for UML related cases decreased by 8.6% from 1,643 persons in 2014 to 1,501 persons in 2015. This is a decline from the 1,981 arrests in 2011. In the period from 2011 to 2015, a total of 2,845 persons were sentenced to imprisonment and caning by the Courts. Under the Moneylenders Act, an individual who acts as a UML, or assists the UML to conduct his business, shall be sentenced on conviction to a fine of up to $300,000, 7 years imprisonment, and 12 strokes of the cane. An individual who commits UML harassment shall be sentenced on conviction to a fine of up to $60,000, 9 years imprisonment, and 18 strokes of the cane. Police will continue to take a tough approach and clamp down on all manner of UML activities. Back to Contents

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UPDATE ON IMPLEMENTATION AND TAKE-UP RATE OF PARENTHOOD PROVISIONAL HOUSING SCHEME

106 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many families have benefited from the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) since its launch; (b) how many of these families have since moved out to their new HDB flats; (c) how many families co-share with another family temporarily in one flat and how many are without co-sharing; (d) how many families have made appeals for rental reductions and what is the number of successful and non-successful appeals respectively; and (e) whether more flats will be made available for PPHS.

Mr Lawrence Wong: About 1,860 families have benefited from the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) since its launch in January 2013. 630 families have since moved into their new HDB flats. Almost all families in PPHS do not co-share. So far, only 16 families have taken up the co- sharing option since its introduction in November 2014. Overall, 28 families have appealed for rental reductions. HDB encourages families who appeal for lower rent to consider co-sharing with another eligible family. For those in financial hardship, HDB may assist them with Interim Rental Housing (IRH) which has even lower rents. Of the 28 families, HDB assisted 22 families with these measures or by transferring them to a PPHS flat with a lower rent. The remaining 6 chose to remain in their PPHS flats. From June 2015, we increased the PPHS supply by about 800 flats. Currently, we have about 1,950 PPHS flats in total. We will continue to review the supply considering the availability of flats and demand for PPHS. Thus far, the supply has been sufficient to meet demand. Back to Contents

APPROVAL PROCESS FOR FLAT OWNERS SUBSIDIES UNDER HDB’S GOODWILL REPAIR ASSISTANCE SCHEME

108 Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the current policy and approval process for granting flat owners 54 subsidies under HDB's Goodwill Repair Assistance Scheme; and (b) whether MPs and grassroot advisors have a role to play in this process and, if so, what is their role.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Flat owners are responsible for the maintenance of the interior of their flats. This includes the repair of spalling concrete and ceiling leaks. They will also have to bear the cost of the repair works. If the leak or spalling concrete is due to wear and tear, flat owners can request for assistance under the Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) scheme, where HDB will arrange for the repair and co-pay 50% of the repair cost. As this a nation-wide scheme, the network of Government-appointed Advisors help outreach, ground assessment and to check that the flats are eligible for repairs under the GRA. HDB also welcomes feedback from all Members of Parliament (MPs) should they encounter such cases among their residents. Back to Contents

Office of the Clerk of Parliament Singapore, 15 August 2016