Economy & business — Topics

7 Mar 2019

Estimate of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020

The Committee of Supply convened for the 6th Allotted Day to review the Estimate of Expenditure for the financial year 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.
The debate was formally opened by the Speaker, who presided over the proceedings.
The session proceeded under standard parliamentary procedures for budget consideration.

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7 Mar 2019

Expanding Foreign Construction Worker Directory System to Other Sectors

The Minister of State for Manpower explained that the Foreign Construction Worker Directory System (FCWDS) was established by the construction industry to address cyclical project-based work, and it has been integrated into a mobile app for accessibility, but there has been no expressed interest from other sectors to adopt a similar system.
The Member for Nee Soon proposed extending the directory system to the cleaning sector due to its similar cyclical nature and suggested incentivizing the hiring of existing foreign workers in Singapore through reduced levies.
The Minister of State responded that while the construction sector's project-based nature necessitated the FCWDS, the services sector like cleaning has longer contract periods, and any expansion would require interest from industry associations, though ad-hoc facilitation between employers is already provided in cases like Town Councils.

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6 Mar 2019

Calculation of Norm Costs of Running Long-term Care Services

Louis Ng questioned how the Ministry of Health calculates norm costs for long-term care services, noting they are often lower than the real costs claimed by voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) as reported by the Lien Foundation in 2018.
MOH explained that it collaborates with VWOs, private and public providers to conduct regular costing exercises, determining costs based on service requirements and averaging them to establish a norm cost used as a funding reference.
MOH acknowledged that costs can vary among providers due to differences in care models, cost structures, and productivity, with some having higher or lower costs than the norm.
The government provides means-tested subsidies of up to 80% for long-term care, with additional financial assistance options like MediFund and charity support from VWOs, while the Community Silver Trust offers dollar-for-dollar matching for donations.

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6 Mar 2019

Committee of Supply Reporting Progress

The Leader of the House, Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien, sought and received consent to report progress and adjourn the sitting to the next day.
The Chairman formally resolved that progress be reported and leave be granted to sit again tomorrow, followed by a procedural change in the chair.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien reported to the Deputy Speaker that the Committee of Supply had made progress on the 2019/2020 Estimates of Expenditure.
The Deputy Speaker concluded the session by acknowledging the report, thereby adjourning the proceedings.

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6 Mar 2019

Committee Of Supply – Head O (Ministry of Health)

Parliament debated the Ministry of Health's budget, focusing on preventive care, healthcare affordability, and support for an ageing population, with MPs raising concerns over rising chronic diseases, dementia, and caregiver support.
Minister Gan Kim Yong outlined initiatives to transform healthcare, including expanding the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) to cover all Singaporeans for chronic conditions and enhancing primary care networks and community-based services.
Key updates were provided on the Merdeka Generation Package, the War on Diabetes, mental health services, and the regulation of private ambulances, with an emphasis on keeping healthcare sustainable and accessible for all citizens.

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6 Mar 2019

Estimate of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020

The debate on the Estimate of Expenditure for the financial year 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 was conducted during the Committee of Supply on the 5th Allotted Day.
Mr Speaker presided over the proceedings, ensuring the orderly consideration of the expenditure estimates.
The session focused on the formal review and approval of government spending plans for the upcoming fiscal year.
No specific policy areas or ministerial speeches were detailed in the provided text.
The debate proceeded under standard parliamentary procedures for budgetary scrutiny.

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5 Mar 2019

Recurrent Costs of Government's Healthcare and Long-term Care Expenditure

Louis Ng asked the Minister for Health to state the percentages of recurrent versus capital costs in the government's healthcare and long-term care expenditures.
The Minister replied that in 2016, the government's $9.3 billion healthcare expenditure comprised about 80% recurrent costs and 20% capital costs.
For long-term care, the $830 million government expenditure in 2016 consisted of approximately 70% recurrent costs and 30% capital costs.

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5 Mar 2019

Total Cost of Providing Long-term Care in Singapore in Latest Available Financial Year

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for the total cost of providing long-term care in Singapore in the latest financial year and the breakdown of how this cost is shared among individuals, the government, insurance, and charities.
The Minister for Health stated that full 2017/18 data would be available later in 2019 due to the extensive data compilation process.
Based on 2016 data, total national health expenditure on long-term care was about $1.3 billion, with two-thirds borne by the government and one-third by private financing sources.
The minister noted that further breakdown among individuals, insurance, and charities could not be provided due to data constraints.
The response focused on formal and informal care-giving, indicating that the data covers both types of long-term care services.

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5 Mar 2019

Committee of Supply Reporting Progress

The Minister for Social and Family Development moved to report progress and ask for leave to sit again tomorrow.
The Chairman consented and passed a resolution to report progress and reconvene the next day.
Mr. Desmond Lee formally reported that the Committee of Supply had made progress on the 2019/2020 Estimates of Expenditure.
The Deputy Speaker approved the motion, allowing the committee to resume the following day.

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5 Mar 2019

Estimates of Expenditure for The Financial Year 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020

The Parliament convened for the 4th Allotted Day to consider the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.
The session was formally opened by the Speaker, who then called for the Clerk to read the orders of the day.
The debate proceeded under the Committee of Supply to examine and approve the proposed government expenditure for the specified period.

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4 Mar 2019

Response to Government Support for Professional Conversion Programme, Career Support Programme and Special Employment Credit

Since 2016, over 2,000 companies have participated in Professional Conversion Programmes, mostly SMEs, with the most in Education, Financial Services, and General Manufacturing, and new programmes planned for emerging roles.
Approximately 2,000 companies have used the Career Support Programme since 2015, mainly SMEs, concentrated in Infocomm and Media, Professional Services, and Wholesale Trade, to hire long-term unemployed or mature retrenched jobseekers.
From 2017 to June 2018, the Special Employment Credit supported about 108,000 employers hiring nearly 423,000 older workers, with the highest uptake in Food Services, Wholesale Trade, and Retail Trade.
The government will continue engaging tripartite partners and companies to raise awareness and encourage wider participation in these Adapt and Grow initiatives.

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4 Mar 2019

Committee of Supply Reporting Progress

Chee Hong Tat requested and received consent to report progress and ask for leave to sit again the next day.
The Chairman approved the motion, and the Deputy Speaker assumed the Chair of the House following the Committee of Supply.
Chee Hong Tat reported progress on the 2019/2020 Estimates of Expenditure and formally requested leave to continue the session the following day.
The Deputy Speaker accepted the report and granted the request.

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4 Mar 2019

Committee of Supply - Head Q (Ministry of Communications and Information)

Parliament debated how to accelerate Singapore’s digital transformation, focusing on helping businesses, especially SMEs, adopt technology and on preparing workers through skills upgrading, with questions raised about the effectiveness of existing schemes and the need for better support.
Concerns were raised about cybersecurity threats, the need for stronger public awareness, and the adequacy of current measures, including the protection of critical infrastructure and the potential for victim compensation following data breaches.
The digital divide, particularly for seniors and low-income households, was highlighted, with calls for targeted outreach, improved digital literacy, and more accessible services to ensure inclusivity.
The media sector and libraries are being transformed to stay relevant in the digital age, with efforts to enhance content, expand e-resources, and foster lifelong learning and community engagement.
The government outlined plans to develop a secure, trusted cyberspace, advance AI governance, and strengthen cross-border data flows to support economic growth while safeguarding public interests.

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4 Mar 2019

Committee of Supply - Head V (Ministry of Trade and Industry)

The Ministry outlined a four-pronged strategy to prepare Singapore for the next stage of growth: deepening and diversifying market linkages through trade agreements like the ASEAN Single Window and the China-Singapore FTA, transforming industries through the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs), strengthening enterprise and worker capabilities by extending grants like the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) and Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) until FY2022, and empowering businesses with a pro-enterprise regulatory environment, including regulatory sandboxes and a one-stop licensing portal.
To support enterprises in scaling up, the government introduced the Scale-up SG programme for high-growth companies and enhanced the Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS) to provide higher loan covers for overseas projects and mergers and acquisitions, while promoting collaboration through the Partnership for Capability Transformation (PACT) and the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) to help companies internationalise.
The Ministry emphasized developing new growth areas such as agri-technology, with the establishment of the Agri-Food Innovation Park (AFIP) in Sungei Kadut, and supporting industry transformation through tripartite partnerships, including merging the Inclusive Growth Programme (IGP) into the EDG to link business transformation with worker outcomes like wage increases and job redesign.

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4 Mar 2019

Estimates of Expenditure for The Financial Year 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020

Mr Speaker presided over the Committee of Supply's third allotted day for the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.
The procedural order for considering the Estimates was formally read, marking the start of the debate on government spending.
The session focused on the review and approval of expenditure plans for the upcoming financial year.
The discussion was structured around parliamentary procedures for budget approval.

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1 Mar 2019

Funding to Special Assistance Plan Schools and Non-Special Assistance Plan Schools

The Ministry of Education provides an average baseline funding of about $15,000 per secondary school student annually, with additional resources allocated based on student needs and specialized programs.
Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools receive an additional $300 per student per year for Chinese language studies, while non-SAP schools do not receive this specific funding but may get extra support for other programs.
Funding for schools varies, with some receiving up to 30–50% more than the baseline, such as schools with Normal (Technical) students, and additional resources are provided for language elective programs.

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1 Mar 2019

Committee of Supply Reporting Progress

The Senior Minister of State for Law, Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai, moved to report progress and ask for leave to sit again on 4 March 2019.
The Chairman consented to the motion, and the Deputy Speaker assumed the chair of the House.
Mr Tong reported that the Committee of Supply had made progress on the 2019/2020 Estimates of Expenditure and requested leave to resume on 4 March 2019.
The Deputy Speaker approved the report and leave request.

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1 Mar 2019

Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020

The debate on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 was convened in the Committee of Supply on its second allotted day.
The proceedings were formally opened by the Speaker, who presided over the committee’s consideration of the expenditure plans.
The session marked the start of detailed scrutiny of the government’s proposed spending for the upcoming fiscal year.

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1 Mar 2019

Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for FY2018/2019

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira raised concerns about the budgeting process for the Ministry of Education's matching grants to Autonomous Universities, noting the volatility and scale of donations, and moved a symbolic reduction of $100 to the Head K allocation.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education responded that the Ministry plans for lumpy expenditures using a long-term horizon and a $2 billion trust fund (Singapore Universities Trust), and collaborates with universities to estimate matching grant needs.
The amendment to reduce the allocation was withdrawn following the Ministry's explanation, and the total sum for Head K and other Heads of Expenditure were approved as part of the Supplementary Estimates.
Parliament agreed to the resolutions for the Supplementary Main Estimates of $1,322,085,100 and the Supplementary Development Estimates of $294,912,500 for the financial year 2018/2019.
The debate concluded with the Minister for Finance reporting the Committee of Supply's resolutions and Parliament formally agreeing to them.

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28 Feb 2019

Committee of Supply Reporting Progress

The Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How proposed moving that the Committee of Supply report progress and request to sit again the next day, with the Chairman's consent.
The Committee passed a resolution to report progress and seek leave to continue the session the following day, after which the Speaker resumed the chair of the House.
Heng Chee How reported to the Deputy Speaker that the Committee had made progress on the 2019/2020 Estimates of Expenditure and asked for leave to sit again the next day.
The Deputy Speaker approved the request, concluding the procedural session.

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