Economy & business

• MP sought plans for decentralised charging to make electric charter buses viable without wasted mileage.
• Reply: 298 heavy-vehicle chargers exist, 154 public; grant covers 50% up to $30,000 per charger.
• Operators can work with LTA to identify under-served areas for more chargers.

• COE premiums stay high due to strong demand from competitive electric car prices.
• Category A supply peaked in Q4 2025 and has started declining.
• COE categorisation review ongoing, expected to conclude by end of year.

• Household liabilities growth does not directly impact Singapore's fiscal position.
• Fiscal health depends on government revenues and expenditures, not household balance sheets.
• MAS monitors household leverage and encourages prudent borrowing; prior reply details intervention.

• Bill aligns media regulation with telecoms, adding IMDA approval for 30% media stakes and ministerial separation orders. • MPs support but urge clear criteria, proportionality, transparency, and safeguards to avoid deterring investment or chilling independent media. • Workers' impact, including union role and fair transitions, must be considered in major media restructuring.

• Parliament affirmed AI adoption must not cause jobless growth, with Government deliberately shaping outcomes for workers and enterprises.
• Debates centred on tying AI grants to worker outcomes, job redesign, and stronger safety nets like the Jobseeker Support Scheme.
• Tripartism remains key to ensuring AI augments rather than replaces workers, with upskilling and support for displaced workers.

• Parliament affirmed AI must drive inclusive growth without jobless growth, protecting every worker.
• Tripartite approach: job redesign, reskilling, and sharing productivity gains with workers.
• Proposals include earlier retrenchment notice, universal AI access, and stronger PME protections.

• Government procurement uses price, quality and Progressive Wage Mark criteria, plus outcome-based contracts where feasible.
• Multi-year tenderers can submit annual prices to account for wage adjustments and productivity investments.
• Contractors must maintain PW Mark; agencies may terminate for non-compliance, and MOF reviews guidance when needed.

• MOH won't regulate IP premium hikes, citing rising healthcare costs; new riders save 35-40%.
• MAS enforces claims fairness, FIDReC handles disputes; seniors can right-size; public healthcare assures access.
• MOH studies private cost drivers and engages insurers but respects commercial pricing decisions.

• Ensure public EV charging at HDB carparks stays affordable for residents.
• Monitor energy costs to prevent excessive charging fees.
• Implement safeguards for fair, transparent pricing.

• Melvin Yong asked if EV charging accuracy standards exist like fuel pump checks.
• No current standards; Singapore will study emerging international ones when ready.

• Ministry tracks COE bid concentration among major motor dealers.
• Top 10 dealers' share of total bids per category provided for 2025.

• About 20% of active CPF members benefitted from higher contributions.
• This followed the wage ceiling rise from $6,000 to $8,000 (2023-2026).
• Contributions increased from both members and their employers.

• Minister confirms reinvestment of CPF OA sale proceeds within two months is exempt from the $20,000 balance threshold.
• This applies even after housing purchases, but stock and gold investment limits remain due to risk.

• Minister referred MP to CPF Board's published data on CPFIS participation and performance.
• No direct figures were provided in Parliament for the 10-year period.

• SMEs receive up to 70% support for energy-efficient equipment, versus 30% for non-SMEs.
• Government tailors decarbonisation aid, expanding Energy Efficiency Grant to all sectors until 2028.
• Verified emissions and carbon tax revenue figures are regularly published for transparency.

• Carbon tax revenue funds decarbonisation and business energy-efficiency support, with nearly a quarter spent since 2019.
• Future spending expected to rise to catalyse nascent low-carbon technologies.
• No independent tracking exists; revenue management remains internal to government agencies.

• MOH has not compared surgical unit costs; differing cost structures across countries make such studies meaningless.
• Singapore spends less on healthcare as GDP share than ageing developed peers, with good health outcomes.
• Cost drivers: ageing, medical advances, manpower; managed via value-based care, fee benchmarks, limited insurance.

• Premium hikes mainly driven by claims, not commissions.
• Financial advisors help consumers choose suitable plans.
• Insurers may offer alternative distribution channels like direct purchase.

• MOH reports manageable procurement cost increases since March 2026; stockpiles unaffected.
• Hormuz medical supplies are under 1%; downstream petrochemical effects are monitored.
• Suppliers diversified across Asia-Pacific, Europe, Americas; ALPS bulk purchasing stabilises prices.