Debated in Parliament on 1 Feb 2021.
Mr Leong Mun Wai asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether he can provide a breakdown of the 2020 Budgets amounting to $100 billion in terms of (i) expenditure items that total $100 million and above and (ii) which Ministries and contractors are involved in these expenditure items.
Through the five Budgets in 2020, the Government committed a total of $97.3 billion to support our economy and society in fighting COVID-19. Over 85% of this comprised direct transfers, grants and loans to eligible individuals, businesses and households, like the Jobs Support Scheme and the Solidarity Payment.
A total of $13.8 billion was set aside for Ministries' and Statutory Boards' spending on operational aspects of our COVID-19 response, comprising the following major expenditures:
(i) $10 billion under MOH and MTI for medical and emergency operations and supplies. This included the expansion of testing capacity, clinical management of COVID-19 patients, contact tracing capabilities, and securing of critical medical and emergency supplies such as personal protective equipment.
(ii) $2.9 billion under MND to set up and operate quarantine and Stay-Home Notice (SHN) dedicated facilities and build new dormitories to reduce the population density and spread of infection.
(iii) $0.9 billion under MOM to manage the COVID-19 outbreak in the dormitories.
For medical and emergency supplies, 10 agencies awarded contracts to more than 100 suppliers for the provision of relevant equipment and services. For COVID-19 related facilities (quarantine, temporary migrant workers' housing, medical, SHN) and transport arrangements, 13 agencies engaged over 150 suppliers to supply the services. To manage the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in dormitories, MOM awarded contracts to more than 150 suppliers for the provision of food and telecommunications, among others.
When procuring goods and services, we must bear in mind the unprecedented nature of this pandemic and the level of global shortage. This requires us to act swiftly and to adapt. Agencies took care to engage suppliers and evaluate them on who could best meet the requirements while offering value for money. This includes using established contracts as well as establishing new links to diversify and secure emergency supplies that were in short supply globally.
PAPERCUTS