Hansard, 1987-11-09

Under the provisions of clause 2(d) of Article 46 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the following Members have been granted permission to be or to remain absent from sittings of Parliament (or any Committee of Parliament to which they have been appointed) for the periods stated:- Mr Teo Chong Tee (Changi) - from 5th to 15th September and from 1st to 8th November, 1987. Dr Wong Kwei Cheong, PBM (Cairnhill) - from 7th to 9th September, from 4th to 12th October and from 3rd to 18th November, 1987. Dr Koh Lam Son (Telok Blangah) - from 7th to 10th September, 1987. Mr Tan Soo Khoon (Alexandra), Deputy Speaker - from 9th to 18th September and from 17th to 25th October, 1987. Encik Yatiman Yusof (Kampong Kembangan), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs --- from 10th to 14th September and from 4th to 9th November, 1987. Mr Wong Kan Seng (Kuo Chuan), Minister for Community Development and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the House - from 11th September to 2nd October and from 12th to 19th October, 1987. Dr Ang Kok Peng, BBM (Buona Vista) - from 12th to 25th September, 1987. Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam (Sembawang), Minister for Education - from 17th to 19th September and from 8th to 11th November, 1987. Mr S. Rajaratnam (Kampong Glam), Senior Minister, Prime Minister's Office - from 17th September to 19th October, 1987. Dr Wan Soon Bee (West Coast) - from 20th to 22nd September and from 28th to 29th September, 1987. Dr Lee Boon Yang (Jalan Besar), Minister of State, Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Home Affairs - from 23rd to 26th September and from 1st to 12th December, 1987. Mr Abdullah Tarmugi (Siglap) - from 26th September to 2nd October and from 8th to 11th November, 1987. Dr Tan Cheng Bock (Ayer Rajah) - from 27th September to 2nd October and from 8th to 11th November, 1987. Mr Lim Boon Heng (Kebun Baru) - from 28th September to 5th October and from 12th to 17th October, 1987. Mr Ong Pang Boon (Telok Ayer) - from 28th September to 8th October and from 22nd to 29th October, 1987. Dr Ho Tat Kin (Boon Teck) - from 29th September to 9th October, 1987. Dr Lau Teik Soon (Serangoon Gardens) - from 30th September to 6th October, from 19th to 23rd October and from 16th November to 2nd December, 1987. Mr S. Chandra Das (Chong Boon) - on 2nd and 3rd October and from 30th October to 1st November, 1987. BG Lee Hsien Loong (Teck Ghee), Minister for Trade and Industry and Second Minister for Defence (Services) - from 2nd to 11th October, 1987. Dr Ahmad Mattar (Brickworks), Minister for the Environment - from 3rd to 17th October and from 28th to 31st October, 1987. Mr Chew Heng Ching (Kaki Bukit) - from 6th to 23rd October and from 24th to 31st October, 1987. Mr Leong Horn Kee (Thomson) - from 7th to 24th October, 1987. Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee (Toa Payoh) - from 11th to 26th October, 1987. Encik Zulkifli bin Mohammed (Eunos) - from 11th to 17th October and from 4th to 9th November, 1987. Mr Yeo Choo Kok (Delta) - from 12th to 18th October, 1987. Mr Tang See Chim (Chua Chu Kang) - from 13th to 16th October, 1987. Mr Philip Tan Tee Yong (Paya Lebar) - from 22nd October to 15th November, 1987. Dr Augustine H.H. Tan (Whampoa) - from 26th October to 11th November, 1987. Dr Ow Chin Hock (Leng Kee) - from 2nd to 9th November, 1987. Dr Aline K. Wong (Changkat) - from 4th to 19th November, 1987. Encik Sidek bin Saniff (Kolam Ayer), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade and Industry - from 8th to 10th November and from 17th to 29th November, 1987. Mr Tang Guan Seng (Khe Bong), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education - from 8th to 11th November, 1987. Mr Goh Choon Kang (Braddell Heights) - from 14th to 17th November, 1987. Mr Lim Chee Onn (Bukit Merah) - from 16th to 25th November, 1987. Mr Chin Harn Tong (Aljunied), Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs - from 21st November to 11th December, 1987. Mr Ho Kah Leong (Jurong), Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications and Information - from 14th to 26th December, 1987. Dr Dixie Tan (Ulu Pandan) - from 21st to 27th December, 1987. YEOH GHIM SENG Speaker Parliament of Singapore

The following Bills were assented to by the President of the Republic of Singapore on the dates stated: 8th September, 1987 (i) Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax)(Amendment) Bill. 14th September, 1987 (i) Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill; (ii) Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (Amendment) Bill; (iii) Intoxicating Substances Bill; and (iv) Accountants Bill. YEOH GHIM SENG Speaker Parliament of Singapore

asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence whether his Ministry will set up a career development unit to enable representatives of private business enterprises to conduct induction talks for full-time national servicemen so as to prepare them for jobs prior to their Run-Out-Date and whether there is an employment service available to assist them in getting a job in the private or public sector after their ROD.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister. Prior to 1975, MINDEF ran a job placement service for national servicemen. This service was discontinued because the healthy employment market made it redundant. In a growing economy, National Servicemen, like others in the job market, have been able to find jobs on their own without any difficulty. Their National Service training, discipline and self-confidence stand them in good stead for any job. National Service reservists work in well over 55,000 companies. Every employer in Singapore is potentially an employer of national servicemen. To allow employers to conduct induction talks for national servicemen before ROD would be impracticable and highly disruptive to the training programmes.

asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence how many full-time national servicemen had signed on in each of the defence forces for the years 1984 to 1986 and whether he considers the intake in each of the categories satisfactory.

Mr Speaker, Sir, as a matter of policy, MINDEF does not release manpower or recruitment figures for the armed services. However, MINDEF sets recruitment standards which ensure that the persons recruited are fit and able to fulfil their operational roles in the services, and sets terms and conditions of service sufficiently attractive so that MINDEF is able to recruit the manpower it needs from the national talent pool. By these criteria, the record of the past few years in all three services has been satisfactory.

asked the Minister for National Development if the Housing and Development Board will give the number of flats affected by the relocation scheme and the target date by which the exercise will be completed.

asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many families have taken up flats under the Housing and Development Board's relocation scheme as at the latest date; (b) what types of flats have families affected by relocation applied for; and (c) what other actions, besides payment of compensation, are being undertaken by the HDB to minimise the difficulties facing households affected by relocation.

Mr Speaker, Sir, since Questions 3 and 4 deal with the same subject, may I have your permission to deal with them together?

Yes.

Sir, the HDB Relocation Programme is planned to be carried out in phases. About 20,000 tenants in 357 blocks are affected under the first phase of the exercise. The target date for the completion of this phase is the last quarter of 1988. The other phases are under review to take into account the experience gained in the current exercise. As at 30th September 1987, 20,363 tenants had registered for alternative accommodation under the Relocation Programme. Of these, 10,624 (52%) opted for alternative rental flats and 9,739 (48%) opted to buy flats. So far, 12,216 have already accepted alternative accommodation comprising 6,226 who accepted rental flats and 5,990 who accepted home ownership flats. In addition to the payment of removal allowance for those who cannot afford to buy flats, the HDB will try to rehouse them in rental flats either within the neighbourhood or in adjoining estates wherever this is possible. This should help to minimize the difficulties faced by such tenants.

Mr Speaker, Sir, how much is the removal allowance which the HDB is paying now?

Sir, speaking from memory, I think it is $500 and $1,000.

Sir, will the Minister explain what is the action contemplated by the HDB on those tenants who still remain towards the end of the target date?

Sir, the intention is to clear all these blocks and they have been given notice. They will be persuaded to move out to other flats, either rental flats or persuaded to buy flats. The same procedure will be adopted as and when we clear any area. If necessary, they will be physically removed.

Sir, could the Minister relocate old people and old couples within the same neighbourhood and not to other neighbourhoods which would cause problems to them?

Mr Speaker, Sir, this is a group that we pay particular attention to, the old people, two single people sharing a flat and other similar cases. We give them special attention and we try and rehouse them as far as possible in the same neighbourhood or very near their present abode.

asked the Minister for the Environment what was the cause of the cholera outbreak at Pelangi Home recently and what measures are being taken to prevent further occurrences in this and other welfare institutions.

asked the Minister for the Environment (a) what caused the cholera outbreak at Pelangi Home resulting in the death of one inmate and 17 others being warded; (b) whether this was the first outbreak in the Home; and (c) what steps have been taken to ensure that there will be no further outbreaks in Homes.

Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your permission to reply to Question 6 as well because the two questions are similar?

Yes.

The cause of the recent outbreak of cholera in Pelangi Home has not yet been established. Investigations are still in progress. A total of 19 residents came down with cholera and one of them died. Food was not prepared in the Home. All the meals were supplied by a licensed caterer. No cholera germs were detected in any of the food samples collected and all the food handlers screened were found to be free from cholera-carrier state. The water supply to the Home was safe and there was no evidence of it being contaminated with cholera germs. The Home was well maintained and the sanitation in the Home including the toilets were generally satisfactory. The Pelangi Home is an institution for burnt-out mental patients discharged from Woodbridge Hospital. Many of the inmates are not capable of ensuring good personal hygiene. It is likely that the poor personal hygiene of the inmates led to the rapid spread of infection within the Home after one of them came down with cholera. The Pelangi Home has been in existence for the past three years and no cholera case or outbreak has previously been reported. The key to the prevention and control of cholera outbreak in the Home and other welfare institutions is maintenance of a high standard of environmental sanitation. Staff in these institutions should pay special attention to the personal and food hygiene of the inmates. They have also to actively look out for diarrhoeal cases among the inmates and isolate them immediately at the Communicable Disease Centre of Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Mr Speaker, Sir, after giving such advice to the Homes concerned, may I ask of the Minister for the Environment what follow-up action will be taken to ensure compliance?

Mr Speaker Sir, we do take follow-up action. Environmental health officers of my Ministry are now conducting monthly visits on the Home and they will continue to do so for at least another six months to ensure that the required standard of cleanliness and hygiene is maintained.

asked the Minister for Communications and Information what steps are being taken to ensure that there will be no congestion at our port, now that the economy is picking up, and that our port will continue to maintain its premier position as the busiest port in the world, in the light of competition from other ports.

Mr Speaker, Sir, in the first nine months of this year, containerised cargo at our Port increased by 21% to reach 28 million tonnes. General cargo throughput also increased by 16%, compared with the same period last year, to 38 million tonnes. Thanks to long-term planning, our Port has been able to accommodate these substantial increases without any adverse effect. The port continues to maintain a high level of productivity. On the average, the port turns a container ship around in about seven hours, handling something like 600 containers. This turnaround time is one of the fastest in the world. It means much lower costs for shipowners as well as shippers. As for the foreseeable future, we expect containerised cargo to continue to increase. To meet this expected growth, the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) is increasing the capacity of its existing container facilities by adding more quay cranes and other handling equipment. These cranes will be computerized to handle fourth-generation container vessels even more efficiently. The contract for 10 such cranes, amounting to $55 million, was recently awarded. PSA is also converting two conventional berths into a container berth at a cost of about $30 million. The new container berth will be ready in the second half of next year. This additional berth will be equipped with the latest container handling facilities and should be sufficient to meet the expected growth up to 1992. Beyond 1992, PSA plans to develop a new container terminal on Pulau Brani. Pulau Brani will have a modern terminal with maximum use of automation, mechanization and computerization in all its operations. Pulau Brani will also be linked to the mainland by a causeway. This will help reduce land transport time for importers and exporters as well as for sea-air freighters. Singapore intends to maintain its position as the world's busiest port. For the first nine months of this year, shipping tonnage calling at Singapore increased by another 4%, bringing the total tonnage to 250 million gross registered tonnes. We will ensure that our port services are efficient and that our port charges competitive. We will strive for higher standards of productivity to give lower costs and to streamline port tariffs to maintain competitiveness. New computer hardware will be acquired and software developed to improve planning as well as to facilitate information and communication between the port, port users as well as the relevant Government departments. More aggressive marketing programmes will also be initiated to attract more ships and cargo to Singapore. No effort will be spared to maintain our position as the premier port internationally.

asked the Minister for Communications and Information what the response has been from both the public and private sectors to the use of our National Symbol, since it was launched in 1986.

Sir, since the National Lion Symbol was launched in July last year as an integral part of the National Day Celebrations, it has been well received by the public. This is evident by its wide usage by private corporations, community organizations as well as the public sector. You can see the Lion Symbol almost everywhere, on buses, taxis, banners, letterheads, and so forth. To illustrate how popular the Symbol has been: Members will recall that earlier this year my Ministry produced some collar pins with the Lion Symbol and distributed them at the last National Day Parade to participants and spectators. The pins proved to be so popular that private and public sector organizations have, on their own, ordered an additional 200,000 pins for the use of their members and staff. Nationwide, the response to the National Symbol has been very positive. So far, more than 150 organizations have used or are still using the Symbol in various ways in printed materials, advertisements, products and activities. I would like to thank all the organizations for taking pride in identifying themselves with our National Symbol and in their own way publicly declaring their loyalty to Singapore. I hope more organizations will follow their lead. Sir, with your permission, I would ask the Clerk of Parliament to circulate a list of items which have incorporated our National Lion Symbol. [Copies of document distributed to hon. Members.] These examples will make it easier for other organizations to use their ingenuity to develop new ways of using the National Symbol.

asked the Minister for Home Affairs what are the types and number of crimes frequently committed in Housing and Development Board new towns, especially in Ang Mo Kio; and what further measures will be introduced to reduce the crime levels.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the crimes most commonly committed in public housing estates are robbery, housebreaking, motor vehicle theft and vandalism. There were 5,672 such offences in 1986. The number up to September this year was 4,786. In Ang Mo Kio a total of 435 cases was reported for the period January to September this year. For the same period last year the total was 333 cases. The overall increase was attributed mainly to motor vehicle theft and vandalism. The Police are monitoring the crime levels. In the problem areas extensive patrols and ambushes are carried out. Where appropriate, special operations have also been mounted for some of these offences. The Police will step up their policing efforts through more Police presence and anti-crime operations. The public also can play a big part to help in this area. They can help by immediately reporting suspicious persons loitering around the vicinity. Indeed, such public cooperation and vigilance, in the opinion of the Police, contributed to a decline in housebreaking offences last year.

asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he will look into the possibility of upgrading the facilities at the Finger Pier immigration checkpoint to provide faster clearance of tourists and others returning from tours to the Indonesian islands like Batam and Tanjong Pinang.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Finger Pier Passenger Terminal was constructed by the Port of Singapore Autho- rity in 1975 to cater to the ferry traffic between Singapore and the neighbouring Indonesian islands. With the development of Pulau Batam and Tanjong Pinang as holiday spots for Singaporeans and others over the last two years, there are now more people travelling to Indonesia via the Finger Pier checkpoint. The PSA and Immigration Department are monitoring the traffic and the capability of the existing facilities to handle it. Improvements are being made to the terminal building and, if necessary, PSA will review the situation. PSA is also working on long-term plans for a new site to build bigger and better facilities.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will give an assessment of the current financial state of the Singapore stockbroking industry.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Singapore stockbroking industry has survived the recent worldwide collapse in share prices remarkably well. The ST index fell a total of 31% between 19th October 1987 and 2nd November 1987. Due to a combination of international and regional factors, this fall was only exceeded by the decline in Hong Kong and was substantially larger than the falls in New York and Tokyo over the same period. The Stock Exchange of Singapore (SES) was also able to cope with sharp rises in turnover without any hiccups. This performance provides ample evidence of the fundamental soundness of the stockbroking industry. The present stability of the industry is a direct result of reforms introduced following the Pan-Electric crisis two years ago. They included the Securities Industry Act of 1986, the reconstitution of the Stock Exchange Committee, the corporatization of stockbroking firms, and the more recent introduction of revised rules on settlement and delivery. Bank borrowings of the stockbroking industry totalled $260 million as at 30th October 1987, compared to $1 billion two years ago. These borrowings are well supported by aggregate shareholders' funds of $484 million so that stockbrokers are operating within the capital and debt-gearing criteria required in the Regulations. Stockbroking firms have extended only $100 million in margin financing to their clients and their own investment in stocks and underwriting exposures are relatively modest, amounting to $92 million and $53 million respectively. With a much improved capital base and a healthy flow of commission income, the firms are well placed to weather the present turmoil in the stock markets.

Would the Minister now consider it wrong to allow CPF members to use their CPF money to buy shares in the stock exchange, people whom the Howe Yoon Chong Report not so long ago would like us to believe that they could not be trusted to look after their own savings and yet they are now allowed to participate in the stock exchange casino, speculating away their hard earned money on shares, gold, and heaven knows what?

Although the question is not relevant to the question being asked, I will nevertheless reply. I do not believe that it was a mistake and I think there is a presumption that all members who have used their CPF money have, in fact, lost money. This is not true. Some who have bought early should have made some money and those who have sold before the peak would also have made money. Undoubtedly there would be some who have taken on paper losses and one assumes that these people would not find it necessary to sell because the funds used were surplus to their immediate requirements and they should have bought only shares which were sensibly priced in the first place. It must be recognized that any investment carries a risk. The higher the rate of return one expects the higher the risk and one can assume that the majority of investors in Singapore are reasonably sensible, although one cannot exclude the possibility of those who want to speculate and therefore have to accept the risk.

asked the Minister for Finance what is the effect if any, of the present crisis in world stock markets in New York, London, Tokyo, Sydney, Hong Kong, etc, on our reserves invested overseas.

Sir, the Government has always maintained a conservative strategy in the management of its overseas assets. Our investments are mainly in Government bonds, with the balance divided between gold, cash, stocks and shares, and real estate. Our stock portfolio has declined in value in line with world stock markets but as the bulk of our portfolio was purchased over a period of several years since 1982, our investments still show very substantial real gains even at present prices. The present fall in share prices should also be seen in its proper context. The worldwide bull market in stocks started in 1982 and the recent stock market declines merely bring share prices back to levels last seen in late 1986 in the United States and early 1987 in Japan. We were also fortunate that when share prices fell, bond prices moved in the opposite direction, so that the declines in our stock portfolio were partly offset by gains in our bond portfolios. Overall, the present crisis in world stock markets has had little impact on our overseas investments. I should also mention that our equity purchase policies have always been a conservative one. We are long term investors, concentrating on a portfolio of strong, low price/earning multiple companies with a large market capitalization, all well placed to ride through economic downturns.

Sir, can the Minister please tell us what is the percentage of the reserves that are invested in stock overseas?

We have never announced a breakdown of our investments and I do not propose to do so now.

asked the Minister for Labour what is the latest unemployment situation and whether his Ministry has plans (i) to encourage part-time employment, (ii) to persuade employers in the private sector to increase the retirement age of their workers and (iii) to monitor the supply and demand on foreign workers so as not to jeopardize our own people of job opportunities.

asked the Minister for Labour what is the latest available unemployment rate.

Mr Speaker, Sir, may I answer Questions 13 and 14 together as they overlap. The latest labour force survey in September 1987 shows that there were an estimated 44,700 unemployed persons, a decline of 14,100 persons from June 1987. This gives an unemployment rate of 3.6%, down from the 4.7% recorded in June 1987. With economic recovery, the unemployment situation has improved as many of the jobs created have been taken up by Singaporeans. My Ministry has been encouraging companies to employ more part-time workers as an additional source to meet their labour requirements. Our survey shows that about 27,000 housewives are interested to return to work. Of these, about 12,000 would like to work part-time. This is a potential pool of persons for employers to attract back to the workforce by devising part-time schemes with working hours which suit these women. There is also the pool of retired workers some of whom may be prepared to seek part-time employment. My Ministry is presently looking into how the Employment Act can be amended to facilitate part-time employment. I have made clear that the Government would like employers in the private sector to raise the retirement age of their workers to 60 years. In July this year I informed the House of the Government's intention to gradually reduce the CPF contribution rates for employees working beyond 55 years of age to facilitate the raising of the retirement age. I hope employers and their unions will settle this issue during the negotiations of new collective agreements. My Ministry will closely monitor progress on this issue. My Ministry is regulating the entry of foreign workers into Singapore. I will explain our work permit policy later in reply to Questions 15 and 30. 11.28 am

Sir, of these foreign workers, how many of them are from Malaysia and are commuting to and from Singapore daily?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not have the figures here.

Sir, in view of the improved situation, will the Minister direct his Ministry to be less stringent in issuing work permits for local industries?

Mr Deputy Speaker, I will be answering questions on the work permit policy in reply to Questions 15 and 30. Maybe the Member can ask his question later.

asked the Minister for Labour (a) which economic sectors are facing a tighter supply of labour; and (b) what actions are being taken to ensure an adequate supply of labour to these economic sectors.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in terms of employment, the manufacturing sector has been the fastest growing sector this year. In the first eight months of this year, it created about 32,000 new jobs compared to 9,000 in the commerce sector, 2,500 in the transport and communications sector and 2,000 in the finance and business service sector. The growth in manufacturing has been mainly in the electronics and garment industries which account for about 60% of the job increases. These two industries as well as the retail sector have a preference for young unskilled female workers who are in short supply. With economic recovery, many jobs created have been taken up by new entrants to the labour market from our schools, vocational institutes, Polytechnics and Universities as well as by retrenched workers and other unemployed Singaporeans. Since June last year, about 30,000 unemployed Singaporeans have found jobs. There are also an estimated 36,000 Singaporeans classified as economically inactive who have indicated interest in seeking employment. To prevent the labour market from getting too tight, the Government has allowed the liberal entry of foreign workers into the four approved sectors which are manufacturing, hotels, construction and domestic maids. This policy indirectly benefits the other sectors of the economy by untightening the labour market. Foreign work permit holders who have been employed in the unapproved sectors have been allowed to remain in those sectors and to change jobs if they wish. Apart from increased competition for workers, certain firms may have difficulty in recruiting and retaining sufficient workers for various reasons. Some examples are: 1. The firm pays salaries which are below market rates; 2. The working environment is unpleasant and the image of the firm is poor; 3. The company has more than 50% foreign workers in its workforce and is not allowed to recruit any more foreign workers; 4. The firm has been blacklisted for employing foreign workers illegally. The Member's question implies that the Government has to make available sufficient workers to meet whatever demand. With our limited working population this means an increasing access to foreign workers. Such a liberal policy would not be to our national interest. The current econo- mic situation is such that a ready supply of foreign workers tends to create its own demand. There will be no incentive to optimize the use of local manpower, to employ older Singaporean workers and housewives and to increase productivity through automation and improved work methods. Too liberal an inflow of foreign workers will also depress local wages and attract more unskilled labour-intensive operations to Singapore. The Government has to carry out a difficult balancing task. We have to allow a regulated inflow of foreign workers to facilitate healthy economic growth and upgrading whilst avoiding over-dependence on foreign workers. Economic growth should not be achieved simply by importing an ever-increasing number of foreign workers. Our goal should be to upgrade the level of our economy so that Singaporeans can be trained and employed in better paid jobs. To achieve this, both employers and workers must be prepared to make the necessary adjustments and to play their parts.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, can the Minister please tell this House whether workers have been recruited from China or attempts have been made to recruit workers from China?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are very few workers here from China. They are here basically for training, for example, in the construction sector.

Can the Minister please tell us how many of these female foreign workers were sent home because they attempted to go into a contract of marriage with our Singaporeans?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Member seems to have a liking for asking detailed questions about numbers. I do not carry these numbers with me in my head. If he is interested, he could file a separate question for a later sitting and I would be happy to answer the question.

asked the Minister for Community Development, with the emphasis given to the quality of childcare, whether the Government is paying adequate attention to the training and development of childcare personnel and whether his Ministry will give accreditation to the childcare training programme of the National Trades Union Congress which came into operation in 1985, so that there can be more qualified personnel available for childcare services.

The Ministry places great emphasis on the training of child care staff as this affects the quality of care provided by a child care centre. When parents consider placing their children in a child care centre, the quality of care is an important factor which they look for. As there is an increasing need for more training courses for child care staff to meet our expanding child care programme, the Ministry is prepared to give accreditation to any centre which conducts courses that meet the minimum standards set by the Ministry. With the assistance of the Institute of Education, the Ministry has drawn up training syllabi for such child care courses. The NTUC has applied for its Fundamentals Course conducted by it to be accredited. This is under consideration.

Sir, would the Minister inform us whether he includes in his concern the quality of child care as given by parents themselves, and what is he doing to improve this nation-wide?

Whenever parents make known their concern about the quality of child care, these are always looked into and borne in mind by me, to help develop child care centres.

Would the Minister consider allowing private groups in housing estates to set up child care centres in their estates themselves?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is really a separate question from the main question. It has nothing to do with this question.

Child care centres?

No. Training of child care staff.

Please, at least attempt to answer it.

File a question and I will answer it.

asked the Minister for Trade and Industry how many major power failures occurred during the 12 months ending on 30th September, 1987; what was the cost of damage resulting from such power failures; and whether his Ministry has any plan to improve the existing system to prevent further power failures.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the 12 months ending 30th September 1987, there were 138 power failures affecting sizeable areas in Singapore. 92 were caused by damage to underground cables by contractors, 23 were due to cable insulation failure, 12 because of equipment failure in the transmission and distribution system, nine due to equipment failure in consumers' installations, and two due to equipment failure in power stations. Cable damaged by contractors is the most frequent cause of power failure, accounting for more than 60% of the total number of power failures which affected sizeable parts of Singapore over the last four years. My Ministry takes a very serious view of these disruptions. Their cost to the nation is tremendous; far greater than the cost of repairing the damaged cable. In a power blackout, factories have to stop, offices cannot function, and shops and establishments lose business. Banks, foreign exchange markets and the stock exchange, where every minute huge amounts are bought and sold, are all paralysed. Industries like petrochemicals and electronics, which depend critically on a continuous and reliable source of power, incur millions of dollars in lost production and start-up costs. Cable damage is not the inevitable result of construction activity. It is purely the result of ignorance and negligence, and is wholly unnecessary and preventable, if only contractors follow the proper procedures, verify the locations of underground cables, and take all necessary precautions before doing excavation works. The Public Utilities Board has formed a cable damage prevention unit to patrol and inspect excavation sites, and to assist contractors working near cables. It will step up its education programme to teach contractors proper excavation procedures and use of cable detectors, through talks and demonstrations. It is also considering debarring recalcitrant contractors, and requiring all contractors to pay a deposit with PUB and obtain a permit before undertaking any excavation and earthworks. Currently, the maximum fine for damaging PUB cables is only $5,000. This is grossly inadequate and totally out of proportion to the gravity of the offence. PUB is seeking to amend the law to increase the maximum fine substantially. A figure of $200,000 would be more realistic, although even this would still be much less than the potential damage done. Meanwhile, the PUB will continue to improve the reliability of its power equipment and network. In the next decade, PUB will spend some $5.2 billion to develop, expand and upgrade Singapore's electricity supply. New power stations and transmission cables will replace older and less reliable equipment. A computerized power system control centre will remotely monitor and control the power stations and transmission and distribution network, and speed up restoration of supplies in the event of power failure. I am confident that these measures will minimize power failures in Singapore.

asked the Acting Minister for Health what steps his Ministry is taking to (i) prevent undue fear among the public which may be generated by the publicity surrounding the Hepatitis B immunization programme, and (ii) prevent profiteering by any one who capitalises on this fear.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, information on Hepatitis B immunization has been provided by my Ministry as part of its health education programme. This is done through various channels, including the mass media. Literature on Hepatitis B has also been printed and distributed free to doctors in both the public and private sectors, for distribution to their patients. The aim is to provide the public with the relevant information so that any misconception can be corrected. The fees for Hepatitis B immunization at Government institutions have been widely publicized. They serve as a guide to the public and act as a curb against profiteering.

To ask the Acting Minister for Health what are the reasons for (i) not making immunization of babies against Hepatitis B compulsory in order to break the chain of infection, and (ii) not allowing Medisave to be used for vaccination in private clinics.

Dr Aline Wong.

Question No. 19.

Immunization for babies against Hepatitis B is on a voluntary basis as it is our experience that the informed parents of today rarely need to be compelled to immunize and protect their children against infection. I am happy to say that our faith has not been misplaced, as 91% of the babies born in September at the four Government hospitals have been immunized. My Ministry will continue to monitor the response and to continue educating expectant mothers on the need to immunize their babies. With regard to Medisave for vaccination in private clinics, my Ministry is agreeable to allowing Medisave to be used for Hepatitis B vaccination in private clinics and is now working out the details of implementation with the Central Provident Fund Board, the Singapore Medical Association and the Association of Private Medical Practitioners of Singapore.

To ask the Acting Minister for Health (a) what is the type of Hepatitis B vaccine used in government hospitals and out-patient clinics; and (b) whether there is any known long-term side effect of this vaccine.

To ask the Acting Minister for Health, in view of the worldwide concern over Aids, if there is any danger of the plasma-based Hepatitis B vaccine being contaminated.

Dr Aline Wong.

Question No. 20, Sir.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as both Questions Nos. 20 and 21 are on the same topic, may I answer them together?

All right.

Thank you. The Government hospitals and outpatient clinics are using the plasma-based variety of Hepatitis B vaccine. It is a highly purified inactivated product manufactured under rigorous quality control procedures complying with WHO standards. These procedures are designed to kill viruses, such as the Hepatitis B or AIDS virus, that may be present. All batches of the vaccines are required to be pre-tested for safety and effectiveness. The particular vaccine that is used by the Government hospitals and clinics has been in use for the past 10 years in many countries with no known long-term side effects.

To ask the Acting Minister for Health (a) what is the cost per dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine used in government hospitals and outpatient clinics; and (b) whether he will consider charging the vaccinations only at cost so as to make them more widely affordable.

Question No. 22.

Sir, the present charges for Hepatitis B vaccination in the Government hospitals and outpatient clinics, in fact, mainly cover the purchase cost of the plasma-based vaccine used. Our cost is lower than in the private sector because of the benefit of bulk purchase. My Ministry will continue to explore for less expensive sources of vaccines manufactured strictly according to the World Health Organization's standards. Should the cost of the vaccine be lower in future, this benefit will be passed on to the public.

asked the Minister for National Development if he will (i) provide details of the proposed different pricing of Housing and Development Board flats within the same block of flats or estate, indicating when the new pricing will be introduced, (ii) indicate whether this proposed pricing will result in price reductions of flats which are less favourably located and (iii) explain how the proposed pricing will affect the present system of allocating flats, including the allocation of flats to resettlement cases.

asked the Minister for National Development if he will (i) explain the justification for different pricing of flats within the same estate or new town and (ii) indicate whether future prices of flats will remain within an affordable range for applicants of Housing and Development Board flats.

asked the Minister for National Development if he will extend the policy of differential pricing of Housing and Development Board flats to differential pricing between HDB estates so that prices in less popular estates may be lowered.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, can I have your permission to deal with Questions Nos. 23, 24 and 25 together as they cover the same subject?

All right.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, flats with a scenic view such as those facing town gardens, parks, reservoirs, etc, and those close to public amenities are in greater demand and should be priced at a premium. There are also a small number of flats with unfavourable features which should be sold at a discount from the prevailing posted price. However, the current pricing system does not reflect these factors for flats within the same estate or within the same new town. These different factors are presently reflected in the prices of HDB flats in the resale market. The HDB will implement differential pricing of flats within the same estate or new town and add a premium to reflect the extra value for those flats with favourable factors. In the first instance, premia will be added for flats with easy accessibility to MRT stations and town centres, and for flats with scenic views. Flats in less favourable locations will be sold at a discount on the prevailing selling prices. These will be mostly flats very near refuse bin compounds, or those which have been repeatedly rejected for various reasons. For other flats, there will be no adjustment to their prevailing selling prices. The proposed differential pricing is expected to be implemented before the end of this year. About 2,500 flats will be affected by this change. This represents about 6% of the flats sold in this financial year. For the next few years only about 5-10% of HDB flats will be affected by such differential pricing. There will be no change to the existing system of allocation. Public applicants will continue to select flats according to their registration numbers. The existing priority given to resettlement applicants will remain. The existing categories of flats will continue to be available for selection to both public and resettlement applicants. As a general pricing policy, HDB will continue to price flats within an affordable range to applicants. We want to encourage a full home-owning society, so prices must be affordable. However, this does not mean that all flats must cost the same. Flats which enjoy special features must naturally cost a little more than those without such features. Differential pricing of better located flats will not put home ownership of HDB flats out of reach of the people.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I believe the Minister has not really thoroughly answered the question because I think the Member who puts this question is interested in the proposed differential pricing. I am also interested to know under what guidelines these different prices will be judged by or guided by. Maybe my question is not clear. There is certainly a range of percentage to the pegged price. So perhaps the Minister could tell us this.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I would have thought that those who filed the question should know whether the question has been answered or not. But anyway, Sir, I will answer the Member for Potong Pasir. The differential pricing will be in the range of 2-6%, depending upon the various features either in terms of premium or in terms of discount.

Sir, should not this discount be applied to those estates which are less popular?

Sir, there is no such thing as a whole estate being less popular. HDB prices already reflect differences in locations of estates. For example, estates which are near the city are priced much higher than estates in new towns much further away. So there is already a gradation of prices which reflect the location. We are now talking about differences within estates and within new towns.

Is the Minister not aware that there are some estates like Yishun and Woodlands which are less popular than other estates?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Yishun already is priced much less than estates near town. Whether or not they will be taken up depends, I think, upon the amenities that will be put in.

I have another supplementary question. We are on the pricing of HDB flats and the Minister has given a guideline that there will be a premium of 2-6% in respect of certain flats which are in a good location. Will the Minister be willing to give a breakdown of how HDB prices are arrived at or are determined? Is he willing to give a breakdown as to the cost of the land, building cost, construction cost, professional cost, interest, etc?

I suggest the Member file a question which can be considered.

Supplementary question, Sir. Would there be a more specific objective for differential pricing other than the scenic spots, the good view and other related aspects.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, whether they are an objective or not will ultimately be shown by whether people are prepared to pay the premium.

asked the Minister for the Environment whether the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura has finalised its plans to undertake fully the organisation and management of the Haj pilgrimage for Muslims and what steps MUIS is taking to prevent confusion among future pilgrims arising from advertisements by tour organisations inviting bookings for the coming Haj season.

( In Malay): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in 1986, the Establishment for Southeast Asian Pilgrims (Muassasah), an organisation under the Saudi Ministry of Pilgrimage and Endowments, informed the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) that they would deal only with MUIS on pilgrimage matters affecting Singapore pilgrims. Following the receipt of this decision, MUIS has been working towards taking over the management of pilgrimage matters from pilgrim brokers. MUIS is hopeful that this can be achieved by the end of 1988. For the coming Haj season, MUIS will continue its present arrangement of having licensed pilgrim brokers assist in the pilgrimage exercise. However, MUIS will assume greater responsibility and control in many areas previously left to pilgrim brokers to manage independently. MUIS will be responsible for:-

( In Malay): Sir, is it true that if MUIS takes over the running of Haj affairs, the fees incurred in performing the Haj will be reduced? Secondly, what steps will be taken by MUIS to help prospective pil- grims who have already registered with pilgrimage agents before the MUIS made its announcement recently?

( In Malay): Mr Deputy Speaker, expenses incurred by a pilgrim depend on several factors and this has nothing to do with the taking over of Haj management by MUIS from the pilgrim brokers. Apart from airfares, the quality of the pilgrim's accommodation is another important factor that will determine the expenses the pilgrim will incur. For example, if a pilgrim wishes to stay in a five-star hotel, such as the Ajyad Hotel in the Holy City of Makkah, this will automatically increase his expenses, compared with that of a pilgrim who only needs moderate accommodation. In any case, MUIS will try its best to ensure that the services it provides and the services provided by certain agencies in Saudi Arabia will satisfy to the pilgrims. With regard to the second question, I think it would be best for prospective pilgrims who have hitherto registered with pilgrimage agents to contact MUIS to resolve this matter.

( In Malay): Sir, in view of the increasing responsibilities of MUIS in coordinating these new functions, does it have sufficient staff to cope with this, or has it sought the people who can really give better service than the pilgrim brokers?

( In Malay): As the hon. Member for Pasir Panjang knows, during Haj seasons MUIS requires the services of Welfare Officers and this practice will, of course, be continued by MUIS in the next pilgrimage season when it takes over the function of Haj administration and management from the pilgrim brokers.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I think it would be very sad for the Malay community if MUIS completely takes over this business of Haj prilgrimage. Because, as it is, there is already ---

Order. Mr Chiam, can you ask your supplementary question?

All right. In view of the fact that there is already a lack of Malay entrepreneurs in Singapore, would not this kind of agency, in fact, kill whatever little entrepreneurial spirit there is in the Malay community?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the decision to allow MUIS to take over pilgrimage matters is made by the Saudi Ministry of Pilgrimage and Endowments. It has nothing to do with MUIS. It is a requirement.

Am I to understand from the Minister that in all these Muslim countries, only official agencies can do this kind of business? Is that the correct position in regard to other Muslim countries?

The answer must be yes, isn't it? If it is a requirement by the Saudi Ministry of Pilgrimage and Endowments, I see no reason why the requirement is imposed on Singapore only.

Why is it that they impose this kind of a condition only at this stage? I believe previously private individuals were allowed to arrange this kind of an agency.

Why don't you address the question to the Saudi Embassy in Singapore?

asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many drivers of 3-ton and over vehicles have been charged with dangerous driving on the expressways and how many of them were involved in accidents; (b) whether he will consider introducing legislation to enable action to also be taken against the owners of the vehicles involved as well as the vehicles; and (c) if he will consider the installation of a device in such vehicles which would record the speeds at which the vehicles have been driven and which could be periodically checked by the relevant authority.

Sir, from January to September this year, a total of 8,979 heavy vehicles were issued summonses for various moving offences on the expressways. Of these, 97.2% were booked for speeding, 2.7% for careless driving and 0.14% for inconsiderate driving. For the same period, Sir, there were 55 accidents involving heavy vehicles on expressways. Of these, four were fatal, eight involved serious injuries and 43 involved slight injuries. The existing legislation against drivers of heavy vehicles committing traffic offences is adequate. Under the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Rules, 1974, the owner of a vehicle can be liable for prosecution for improper maintenance or use of the vehicle. Therefore, in a traffic accident involving heavy vehicles, both the driver and owner may be prosecuted, though for different offences. Finally, Sir, the Police is promoting the use of tachograph among major fleet owners. This device is installed in a vehicle which will record information relating to speed, distance travelled and the number of stops made during each journey. Last month the Traffic Police conducted a seminar for a number of major fleet owners on the subject of how to enhance the safety and performance of their fleet of vehicles. Among the subjects covered was the use of tachographs in vehicles. I am glad to say that the response from the participants was encouraging as most were in favour of the use of tachograph. 12.00 pm

Order. End of Question Time. Ministerial statement. [Questions Nos. 28 to 41 and Nos. 43 and 44 on the Order Paper have been postponed. Written Answer to Question No. 42 has been supplied subsequently. (See section 'Oral Answer to Question Not Reached'(Cols. 51-2)].

Mr Speaker, Sir, in May this year, I announced in Parliament that a Working Committee comprising Government and private sector representatives had been set under the chairmanship of the Director-General of Public Works, who is also the President of the Professional Engineers Board, to look into the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the collapse of the Hotel New World. The Committee has finished its study and has submitted its recommendations to the Government. A copy of the Committee's Report has been circulated to Members. In the course of its work, the Committee visited Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom and West Germany to study their building control systems and practices which are similar or relevant to the recommendations made by the Commission. The views and recommendations of the Working Committee cover five main areas, ie: (i) checking of structural design; (ii) control during construction stage; (iii) maintenance of buildings; (iv) registration of contractors; and (v) DBCD's legislation and staffing requirements. The Government has accepted the recommendations of the Working Committee with very slight modifications and will proceed to implement them. I will now comment on each of the recommendations. (1) Checking of Structural Designs On the checking of structural design, the Government agrees with the view that structural plans and calculations should be independently checked. We will implement a checking system proposed by the Working Committee under which DBCD will accredit registered professional engineers as checkers. Under the system, the developer will engage an accredited checker, who must be from a different firm from the designer, to check the structural design. The checker will submit an independent set of calculations and analyses to DBCD. DBCD will also carry out its own selective checking to make sure that the system is effective. The proposed checking system by accredited checkers has several advantages: Firstly, checking can be done in stages as each structural sub-system is designed. Consultations between the checker and designer can proceed expeditiously at every stage. Secondly, fees paid to the checker by the developer can be based on actual work performed by the checker. Thirdly, independence is ensured by requiring the designer and checker to be from different firms and by DBCD's own selective checking. The Committee estimated that the proposed checking system would cost developers a marginal increase of 0.11% to the total construction cost or 1.6% to the total consultancy cost for a building project. To give Members some idea of what this would represent, if we take a workload equivalent to 70% of the annual value of building projects approved by DBCD during the period from 1982 to 1986, the checking work will represent $6.5 million annually in fees to private consultants. (2) Construction Supervision On construction supervision, the Government agrees that DBCD should enforce proper supervision by full-time qualified persons at the construction sites. For major projects costing $10 million and above, resident engineers will have to be engaged. A full-time clerk-of-works will be required for minor projects costing less than $10 million. However, only "standing supervision" by clerk-of-works during concreting and piling will be required for conventional residential projects costing $2 million and below. Clerks-of-works will have to be formally qualified with at least a Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent. However, in order not to affect the livelihood of the many clerks-of-works who have no formal qualifications and who are currently working in the industry, we will not impose this requirement for three years. Within three years, these people should upgrade themselves. The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) will organize a 6-month National Construction Supervisors' Course for these unqualified clerks-of-works. Other control measures to be introduced during the construction stage include: (i) various tests to be carried out under the supervision of the professional engineers; (ii) laboratory tests to be conducted by SISIR's accredited laboratories; (iii) test results, schedule and record of supervision of the main structural elements to be maintained at the site office for DBCD's inspection and information; (iv) quarterly reports to be submitted to DBCD; (v) spot checks of construction sites by DBCD; and (vi) major structural amendments during construction to be submitted for DBCD's approval. (3) Maintenance of Buildings On the maintenance of buildings, mandatory inspections by professional engineeers will be required for non-residential buildings at 5-yearly intervals. The frequency of inspection will be reviewed 5-10 years after impl ementation with a view to reducing it. Residential apartments and condominiums will be inspected once every 10 years. Private residential houses will be exempted from such mandatory inspection. (4) Registration of Contractors The purpose of the CIDB Registry of Contractors is to serve the needs of Government. Such a system of compulsory registration was introduced to ensure that only bona fide tenderers with the ability to provide a satisfactory level of supplies and services could participate in Government tenders. Therefore, it is inappropriate for CIDB to register and, in the process, to grade contractors for the purpose of private sector projects. It should be up to the private sector developers to make their own assessment on the contractors for their projects. Developes could, if they wish, also pick from amongst those registered with CIDB. However, users of the registry should note that the registration system by itself does not guarantee the quality and performance of the registered contractors. On the contractors' side, they can, in practice, also register with CIDB even if they do only private sector projects. (5) Legislation and Staffing Requirements New legislation will be introduced to enable DBCD to perform the new functions. DBCD will expand its professional staff strength to cope with its enhanced role in the design, construction and maintenance of buildings. The responsibility of the Building Authority will be transferred from the Deputy Director of DBCD to the Director-General of Public Works, who is in a better position to marshall the necessary technical resources within PWD when required. Finally, I would like to add that although the aforesaid measures as recommended are aimed primarily at buildings in the private sector, they would also be applied to public sector buildings, where these measures are applicable. Statutory boards with in-house design expertise will be required to institute proper internal checking systems, ie, all structural plans and calculations must be certified by two qualified engineers, one as the designer and the other as the checker. This internal checking system is currently being practised by PWD as the Government Engineering Authority and responsible for all Government buildings as well as the HDB as the Public Housing Authority. The Building Authority would carry out selective checking to audit the internal checking systems of PWD and the statutory boards. The above measures will be implemented in phases in the coming months as and when the required procedures, legislation and manpower are in place. The Government is grateful to the Building Control Working Committee for their effort in coming out with the above practical preventive measures to enhance structural safety of our buildings.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, whilst my Government Parliamentary Committee did not have the opportunity to study the Report of the Working Committee, nevertheless we are giving it a general support, and therefore we would like to pose some questions to the Hon. Minister. First, what are the main problems his Ministry will face in implementing the proposals as stated in the Report? And which are the measures likely to be introduced first?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, all the recommendations of the Committee can be implemented. There are no big problems. The problems really arise from the rate at which they can be implemented. As I have already mentioned in my statement, it depends upon how quickly we can introduce the procedures, legislation and recruit the manpower. Some of the measures obviously require amendments to existing legislation, the Building Control Act, for example. These could take a little longer because we have to draft the amendments, present them to Parliament, debate and pass the amended legislation in Parliament. We would also take some time to recruit the necessary engineers and supporting staff to implement the measures. The DBCD has already prepared the groundwork on the accreditation of checkers. In this, it will be working very closely with the professional bodies in Singapore. Applications for accreditation of checkers will soon be invited by DBCD and these applications will be evaluated by a selection panel comprising eminent engineers from both the public as well as the private sector. Design checks can be implemented once the accredited checkers are selected. Even though the legislation may not be in place, once we announce the list of accredited checkers, I am sure developers would want to use them. I want to emphasize that developers should not take these measures as measures just to comply with Government requirements. These measures are to protect them and the public. Therefore, even before the legislation is in place which will force them to use checkers, they should start using them to protect themselves and the potential buyers. Procedures for tests during construction and spot checks of construction sites will also be implemented shortly and the targetted date is January 1988.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I understand it, the responsibility of the Building Authority will be transferred from the Deputy Director of DBCD to the Director-General of Public Works. I think the Minister stated that the Director-General is in a better position to marshall the necessary technical resources within PWD. In this respect, does the Minister not envisage a problem during the transitional period when the Building Authority is transferred to the Director-General of Public Works?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not expect any special problems. The Deputy Director who is now the Building Authority as defined in the law actually is one of the Deputy Directors working under the Director-General of Public Works. But there are other Deputies who are responsible for other aspects of public works and their resources and their expertise can be used. If the Director-General is the Building Authority as defined in the law, then he can call upon any one of the Deputies to participate in the evaluation of projects or in the implementation of the Act.

Sir, I would like to ask some questions on construction supervision. Will this 6-month National Construction Supervisors Course which the CIDB is organizing provide sufficient training for clerks-of-works to enable them to competently supervise construction works? And is this course considered equivalent to the Polytechnic diploma? Another question is whether CIDB will want the clerks-of-works to be registered with them, or at least ask developers to register their clerks-of-works with the Board?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the course that will be organized, ie, the National Construction Supervisors Course, is an upgrading course for those who are already engaged in the industry. Applicants must have had sufficient experience, at least two years' minimum experience in the industry, before they can take this course. In other words, it is not a course for newcomers but for those who already have some practical experience. The course, as drafted by the CIDB, should meet the requirements of any competent clerk-of-works. It consists of four modules which will cover all the fundamental requirements that the clerk-of-works should have to do his job properly. The curriculum was planned with major inputs from the construction industry as well as from the professional bodies and the Polytechnics. Depending upon the background, how much education he has had and how much experience, the course can be completed within a period of six to 12 months. The course will be held in the evenings. So it will not interfere with the work of the clerk-of works. Of course, there are some who already have some qualifications which may not be directly relevant but some part of their courses may be relevant. For such people, there will be exemptions from certain parts of the course. We are convinced that the course will be sufficient to make the clerks-of-works competent in their job. As to the question of registration of clerks-of-works, this matter was dealt with by the Working Committee, and I think they quite rightly came to the conclusion that there should not be a separate board of registration for clerks-of-works. It is a question of how far down the line we want to go. The consultant engineer in charge of the job is the one who is responsible, and it is up to him to employ competent people to execute the work. In any architect's firm or in any professional engineer's firm, the consultant engineer cannot say, "Well, somebody else did the job, therefore, I am not responsible." In the same way, in this case of clerks-of-works the engineer cannot disclaim responsibility. It is up to the consultant engineer to make sure, whether he employs a resident engineer or a clerk-of-works in the job, that such people are competent and carry out the job competently.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister some questions with regard to the registration of contractors. What is the Committee's recommendation on registration of contractors and the basis of this recommendation. Secondly, would the Government encourage all contractors to register with the CIDB even though they are only doing private sector projects? Thirdly, has the contractors' association's view been sought on the registration of contractors?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have mentioned in my Statement that the Working Committee looked at this recommendation which has been made by the Commission of Inquiry and they came to the conclusion that it was not necessary to register contractors. The registry of contractors now maintained by the CIDB is for Government as a consumer of supplies and services, and contractors are assessed according to the kinds of work they can do. When Government wants to call for tenders, they use this list. Private developers have to make their own assessment. Of course, they can select from the list that the Government uses on the basis that such contractors already have passed through the scrutiny of Government. There are contractors who do basically priva sector work. If they want to be registered, of course they can apply and provide all the details. In other words, they will be applying as though they want to bid for Government tenders, and if they pass the scrutiny of the relevant authorities, they will be listed, and even though they do not bid for Government tenders, they would have at least passed the scrutiny for Government jobs and the private sector can always use such contractors.

Sir, just a clarification on the answer on the National Construction Supervisor's Course. Will the qualification of those unqualified clerks-of-works who have attended this course be considered at par or equivalent to the Polytechnic diploma?

Yes, but it does not mean in all respects. That is why I started off the answer by saying that in respect of this job that we have for them, it will be considered as equivalent.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I be allowed to raise a few questions related to maintenance? Could the Minister explain why residential buildings are inspected once in ten years whereas non-residential buildings are inspected once in five years? The second question is, why are private residential apartments or houses exempted from inspection, and will the inspection of buildings be extended to public housing blocks of flats?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have exempted the private residential houses because most of these are not more than two storeys high and are individual properties. I think owners can be expected to look after their properties. If there are any cracks, I am sure they will take immediate action to get somebody to look into the cracks. The use of the building is also not likely to change and it is also unlikely that the owner will make structural changes which will endanger his life. The responsibility, of course, must rest basically with the owner-occupants in the case of residential properties. If they detect any cracks, I am sure that they will seek the necessary advice. In the case of commercial buildings, it is quite different. They are rented out usually and very often changes or structural changes take place - partitions are removed, partitions are put in, and there is not the same close scrutiny and sense of ownership. That is why we have accepted the recommendation that these buildings should be inspected once in five years. In the case of residential apartments and condominiums which are highrise, the recommendation is that they should be inspected once in ten years. Most of these apartments are occupied by the owners. Of course, some are rented. And even where they are rented, they are not on very long leases, maybe two or three years. The owner then has an opportunity to go back, inspect, refurnish or restore the place before he rents it out again. So there is constant supervision by the owner of his property, and the owner can be expected to act responsibly. The occurrence of alterations and additions affecting structures is also less likely to take place in the case of residential premises as compared to commercial premises. Moreover, condominiums are required by law to be managed by management corporations. The proposal for maintenance, I must emphasise, is only an interim proposal. We are not certain yet whether it is necessary over the long term to insist on five-yearly inspections. We have to run the system for five to ten years and make the necessary adjustments.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to seek clarification from the Minister as to the need to have accredited professional engineers. I see that all engineers, if they are professional engineers, would be certified by the Board. So why is there a need to have two standards of engineers, one accredited and the other non-accredited?

To be registered as an engineer, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, all that one needs to have is, I think, a degree and a minimum of working experience and you can start designing structures. For those who are going to check, the approach is that such engineers should have had at least ten years' experience because they are going to check on the work done by others and they should not be people who have just been registered to practice as engineers. There is therefore a need need to separate the requirements for checkers from those who design. The system that is recommended is actually taken from the practice in Germany where not all engineers are selected as checkers. Checkers are those who fulfill certain minimum requirements which are higher than those required for just normal engineers who do designs. We do not want a fresh graduate who has just been registered as an engineer to be checking the work of another fresh graduate. I do not think we will get any better work done.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister a couple of questions concerning the proposed checking system for structural designs, plans and calculations? The first question is, will it bring about any difficulties to the developers other than the slight increase in cost he mentioned earlier? Secondly, will it cause any delay in the approval of the building plans?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it should not cause any delay since the checkers will be also from the private sector, as I mentioned in my Statement. The checking can take place from the very first design of the building. It is not necessary for the whole building to be designed and the full set of drawings be submitted to the DBCD for checking and, if there are changes to be made or if there are errors, then the whole set has to be re-prepared. Under the system proposed, the checker can work with the designer right from the very beginning, and as the building is designed at every stage the checking can be done. So I think it should not lead to any delay. In the case of those particular designs on which DBCD chooses to do a counter-check, there could be a small delay. But even then I do not expect it to be a serious delay.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Minister forgot to answer my last question, ie, whether the maintenance inspection will be extended to public housing as well as URA and JTC buildings too?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is already a very elaborate and extensive system of checking of HDB, JTC and URA buildings, and that system will continue.

12.27 pm

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the 28th July this year, I informed this House about the long-term target CPF rates which are applicable to the private sector as well as non-pensionable public sector employees. The Government has since decided on the long-term rates for pensionable employees in the public sector. Prior to the CPF cut in April 1986, the employer's CPF rate for pensionable employees in the public sector was 15%. This was 60% of the private sector rate of 25%. After the CPF cut, the employer's CPF contribution rate for pensionable employees was reduced to 6%. This is 60% of the private sector rate of 10%. The Government has decided to set the long-term rates for pensionable employees at 60% of the rate for each respective age group in the private sector. The current relativity in CPF contribution rates between pensionable public sector employees on the one hand and private sector employees as well as non-pensionable public sector employees on the other will thus be maintained. The target total contribution rate is therefore 24% for pensionable employees below age 55, 15% for those aged 55 to 59, 9% for those aged 60 to 64 and 6% for those 65 years old and above. I now ask the Clerk of Parliament to distribute an Annex (Cols. 53 - 54) which shows the target CPF rates for pensionable public sector employees. For comparison, the already announced long-term CPF rates for employees in the private sector are also given in the Annex. [Copies of document distributed to hon. Members.] Annex - LONG-TERM CPF RATES FOR PENSIONABLE PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES, LONG-TERM CPF RATES FOR PRIVATE SECTOR AND NON-PENSIONABLE PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES (Cols. 53 - 54) Adjusted rates of contribution for pensionable employees in the transitional years will also be pegged at 60% of the adjusted rates for employees in the respective age groups in the private sector.

12.30 pm

"to amend the Evidence Act (Chapter 97 of the 1985 Revised Edition)", presented by the Second Minister for Law (Prof. S. Jayakumar); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.

"to amend the Estate Duty Act (Chapter 96 of the 1985 Revised Edition)", recommendation of President signified; presented by the Minister for Finance (Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.

"to provide for the establishment of the Singapore Totalisator Board and to regulate the conduct of betting by agencies of the Board, and for matters connected therewith", presented by Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.

"to amend the Income Tax Act (Chapter 134 of the 1985 Revised Edition)", recommendation of President signified; presented by Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.

"to amend the Central Provident Fund Act (Chapter 36 of the 1985 Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Labour (Mr Lee Yock Suan); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.

Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to a date to be fixed." - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. Adjourned accordingly at Twenty-Seven Minutes to One o'clock pm to a date to be fixed.

asked the Minister for Communications and Information what is the status of the discussions on a combined fare structure for Mass Rapid Transit/bus commuters and when such new fares will be implemented.

Prior to the formation of the Singapore MRT Ltd (SMRT), MRTC and the bus companies, SBS and TIBS, collaborated in the integration of the MRT/bus systems, including the development of a common ticketing system which will allow commuters to use one ticket for travel on buses and trains. With its formation as the operator of the MRT system, SMRT replaced the MRTC in this project. As Members are aware, in September this year, the operators reported that progress on integration has been good. However, ticketing machines which have to be reliable and sufficiently robust to withstand the heavy wear and tear on buses are not available. It will probably take at least another two or three years for these machines to be developed and tested. It is the intention of SBS, TIBS and SMRT to implement a common or through ticket, as soon as possible, once reliable and proven equipment are available.

asked the Minister for Home Affairs what was the number of traffic accidents at and around the Yio Chu Kang Road/Jalan Kayu/Seletar Road junction between 1984 and 1986, giving a breakdown into the seriousness of the accidents.

The number of accidents at and around Yio Chu Kang Road/Jalan Kayu/Seletar Road junction between 1984 and 1986 according to severity of injuries is as follows:- Serious Slight Year Fatal injury injury 1984 - - 2 1985 - - 3 1986 - - 8

asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether his Ministry will consider lower Mass Rapid Transit fares for special short 1 to 2 station trips between major town centres such as Ang Mo Kio and Bishan, and Toa Payoh and Bishan.

As Members are aware, MRT fares are commercial matters decided by the operator SMRT subject to the approval of the Public Transport Council. I have referred the Member's suggestion to the SMRT for their consideration. Annex - LONG-TERM CPF RATES FOR PENSIONABLE PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES, LONG-TERM CPF RATES FOR PRIVATE SECTOR AND NON-PENSIONABLE PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES (Cols. 53 - 54)