Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

[Deputy Speaker (Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo) in the Chair]

Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, contained in Paper Cmd 7 of 2021. I shall deal first with the Heads of Expenditure in respect of which amendments stand on the Order Paper Supplement.

Head L, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, Minister Indranee Rajah.

Mdm Chairperson, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated to Head L of the Main Estimates be increased by $23,000,000".

The increase is to support stallholders in hawker centres and markets managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) during periods of heightened safe management measures as announced in the Minister for Finance's Ministerial Statement on 26 July 2021.

Question proposed.

Any clarifications? None.

Question, "That the total sum to be allocated to Head L of the Main Estimates be increased by $23,000,000", put, and agreed to.

Question, "That the increased sum of $46,000,000 for Head L stand part of the Main Estimates", put, and agreed to.

Head Z, Financial Transfers. Minister Indranee Rajah.

Mdm Chairperson, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated to Head Z of the Main Estimates be increased by $680,000,000".

The increase is to support affected businesses and individuals during periods of heightened safe management measures through the Jobs Support Scheme and rental relief as announced by the Minister for Finance's Ministerial Statement on 26 July 2021.

Question proposed.

Clarifications? None.

*Question, "That the total sum to be allocated to Head Z of the Main Estimates be increased by $680,000,000", put, and agreed to. (proc text)]

Question, "That the increased sum of $1,660,000,000 for Head Z stand part of the Main Estimates", put, and agreed to.

I shall now deal with the remaining Head of Expenditure. Head W, Ministry of Transport. Minister Indranee Rajah.

Mdm Chairperson, the Supplementary Estimates of $67 million for Head W, as printed in Paper Cmd 7 of 2021 are no longer required after taking into account further under-utilisation identified in the Ministry of Transport (MOT)’s operating expenditure due to disruptions arising from COVID-19.

MOT has surfaced under-utilisation of $198 million. This is more than the $67 million of additional funds originally sought for and printed in Paper Cmd 7 of 2021. The appropriations for MOT should be reduced by an amount of $131 million, and this is reflected in the Supplementary Supply and Budget Adjustments (FY 2021) Bill introduced on 26 July 2021.

In view of the update by Minister, there will not be a vote on Head W.

Question, "That the sum of $1,706,000,000 shall be supplied to the Government under the Heads of Expenditure for the public services shown in the Supplementary Main Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, as amended, contained in Paper Cmd 7 of 2021," put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported.

*Thereupon Mdm Deputy Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House. (proc text)]

Minister Indranee Rajah.

Mdm Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has come to a certain resolution.

Resolution reported –

That the sum of $1,706,000,000 shall be supplied to the Government under the Heads of Expenditure for the public services shown in the Supplementary Main Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, as amended, contained in Paper Cmd 7 of 2021.

Mdm Deputy Speaker, I beg to move, "That Parliament doth agree with the Committee on the said resolution."

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolution accordingly agreed to.