Hansard, Monday, 3 April 2017

1 Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Defence (a) in the past three years, from which countries did most of the cyberattacks on the Ministry's military data systems originate; (b) how long did it take the Ministry to detect the breach of its system in the February 2017 attack; and (c) what steps have been taken to strengthen the Ministry's IT systems.

2 Mr Vikram Nair asked the Minister for Defence (a) if he can provide an update on the Ministry's investigations into the cyberattack on its IT system that took place in February 2017; (b) whether the perpetrators have been uncovered; and (c) what steps may be taken to prevent or minimise the risk from such attacks in future.

Mdm Speaker, may I take Question Nos 1 and 2 together?

Yes, please.

Because computer systems are designed to facilitate connectivity, they are inherently vulnerable to cyberattackers from any location motivated by mischief, criminal theft or national interest, at varying levels of sophistication. This is a global phenomenon. Symantec, a global cybersecurity company, recently reported more than 430 million new pieces of malware in just one year. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) systems are no different and, on a daily level, experience hundreds of thousands of cyber intrusion attempts ranging from simple probes to sophisticated cyber espionage efforts. The latter include covert attacks by highly-skilled operators who mask or obfuscate their actions by routing through multiple countries to hide their real point of origin.

MINDEF/SAF adopts a multi-layered, risk-based approach to cyber defence, which balances between connectivity and speed on one hand, and security on the other. On one extreme are networks which contain sensitive military information, which are physically separated from the Internet and further protected with encryption and access controls. On the other extreme are systems, like I-net, aimed to facilitate connectivity and ease of use with limited security features which require some personal information of users for access. The I-net system contains no classified information and is designed to allow National Service (NS)men on In-Camp Training to access the Internet for civilian work and personal matters when in camp. However, across all MINDEF/SAF networks, multiple sensors, intrusion detection systems and firewalls are placed at critical nodes to detect intrusion attempts and activities.

Computer systems globally are updated consistently with new applications. Each new change can potentially introduce vulnerabilities. It takes about 120 days, on average, for industry players to develop a patch. Cyberattackers exploit this window of vulnerability by evading the most commonly used commercial sensors and anti-virus signatures. Industry reports cite an average of about 150 days, five months, before a breach is discovered in any computer system. For example, the hacking into the US Government's Office of Personnel Management began in November 2013 but was only discovered in March 2014. That is about a four-month lapse. This breach resulted in the loss of up to 18 million personal data records. More recently, hackers breached the email servers of the Democratic National Committee in mid-2015 and this was detected only in April 2016, almost a year later and, by which time, all of their emails and chats had been stolen.

The breach of MINDEF's I-net system was detected on 1 February 2017 and the affected server was taken offline. Forensic investigations on the I-net system showed that the breach had occurred weeks before detection. The modus operandi was consistent with a covert attack, with means used to mask the perpetrator's actions and intent. Our investigations are ongoing but findings will be kept confidential for security reasons. Other relevant Government agencies were also informed about the breach, and the 854 personnel, whose personal information was stolen, were contacted to take the necessary precautions.

As part of ongoing initiatives to strengthen our cyber systems, MINDEF/SAF will develop better assessment tools, data analytics and content scanning engines to enhance our response to cyberattacks. We will also review the storage of personal data on our Internet systems to minimise risks of cybertheft.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak.

Mdm Speaker, I would like to ask the Second Minister this: with so many intrusions and so many cyberattacks on our systems, what are the current measures or laws that protect MINDEF? Are we investigating and prosecuting some of them? With these intrusions, how many of these investigations lead to successful prosecution of the perpetrators?

If the perpetrators can be identified and are locally situated, we will make sure that we take them through the process of law. Often, they are not. Having said that, prosecution and punishment are just one way. We have to do a lot of other things. Technologically, as I have mentioned, various sensors can be put at critical nodes which will help us detect such intrusions. The system architecture is important, which is why MINDEF had separated the I-net system from the more confidential systems. That helped a great deal. In this case, the perpetrator went through the window but could not access the house because the house is separated. The Civil Service is doing likewise.

More importantly, the weakest link is often the human factor. A lot more education is needed because we can have the most sophisticated cyber defence system, but if we do not have the discipline and we plug an external device into our office network, it can be infected. All these are things that we would have to do.

Mr Dennis Tan.

I thank the Second Minister for his answer. I just have two supplementary questions. First, have the perpetrators who were responsible for the recent attack on MINDEF been identified? Two, will the hackers be able to make use of the personal information that they have obtained from the recent attack for future hacking or other cybercrimes? If so, has MINDEF taken any steps to mitigate this?

I have to seek the Member's understanding that because this concerns a security issue, I would rather not comment about how we have identified the perpetrator and who it can be or who it is. For the second question, the information lost is basic, which are National Registration Identity Card, telephone numbers and dates of birth. No passwords were lost and I do not think that with this information, they can conduct further hacking.

3 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) (a) whether courses allowed under SkillsFuture are objectively assessed by the authorities as to how much they should cost and whether there is a negotiation process with training providers to keep course fees reasonable; and (b) whether there is an assessment of the courses to ensure that there are sufficient courses that can lead to tangible economic value-add for individuals rather than simply satisfying hobbies.

Mdm Speaker, SkillsFuture is a national movement to encourage the pursuit of skills mastery. It involves building up multiple pathways of progression, starting from schools and extending to our Post-secondary Education Institutes (PSEIs); developing new ways of education and training, including blended learning, extended internships and cooperation with industries; scaling up lifelong learning opportunities by expanding course offerings at every stage of a person's life. We are also planning on a major outreach programme called SkillsFuture Engage.

The SkillsFuture Credit is one part of the SkillsFuture movement to empower individuals to take ownership of their skills development and lifelong learning journey.

So, while training programmes offered by the Continuing Education and Training (CET) Centres and PSEIs are developed in close collaboration with industries with a strong focus on employment outcomes, the SkillsFuture Credit covers a much larger range of courses because part of its purpose is also to raise awareness of the importance of lifelong learning and skills mastery.

Nonetheless, as part of the approval process to include a course under SkillsFuture Credit, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) examines proposed course fees, using industry benchmarks and funding caps to ensure that they are reasonable relative to other similar courses.

SSG, together with various supporting public agencies, also assess that SkillsFuture Credit courses are skills-based and relevant to industry or an individual's professional development. Many of these courses, such as those offered under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework, go through a structured and rigorous industry-validation process.

But given that we take a deliberately inclusive approach for courses under SkillsFuture Credit in view of its promotional objective, and we reach out to all Singaporeans − young, mature, retired − it is inevitable that some Singaporeans will go for training not related to their careers. However, that is part of the outcome of the empowerment of individuals and their holistic development.

Ms Sun Xueling.

I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for her answer. I took a look at the SkillsFuture portal. Of the top eight most popular courses, six deal with health and fitness, baking, Korean language, sewing and photography. They appear to be courses for the pursuit of hobbies, even though they can be counted as part of lifelong learning. My question in the Parliamentary Question is more that, given that Government monies are being used for SkillsFuture Credit, can more be done to ensure that the courses being provided are ultimately bound to our pursuit of economic value-add for society?

Madam, I want to thank Ms Sun Xueling for her supplementary question. I want to reassure her and Members that when approving SkillsFuture Credit courses, we take into careful consideration whether it is skills-based and relevant to industry needs.

The Member cited some courses. Madam, allow me to list out the top 10 areas of training in February 2017 by number of claims. The first was information and communications; second, food and beverages, third, language skills; fourth, service excellence; fifth, security and investigation; sixth, personal development; seventh, productivity and innovation; eighth, advertising, sales and marketing; ninth, leadership and people management; tenth, business management.

There are more than 50 areas of training and we will stop at the top 10. Sharing the list is to assure Members that when we select these courses, together in partnership with the supporting public agencies, we look closely at whether it is skills-based and whether it is relevant to industry. That being said, earlier, I mentioned that SkillsFuture Credit courses also serve to empower Singaporeans in their lifelong learning journey and holistic development. Singaporeans are able to opt for approved courses that are not directly related to their vocations or careers. But they are perhaps learning it as they are planning to move into adjacent growth areas or they are learning it because they would like to whet their appetite before they start up their own bakery shop, for example.

I want to assure Ms Sun Xueling and Members that as part of the evaluation process, we look at industry relevance, and SkillsFuture Credit eligible courses also undergo an industry validation process. As I had mentioned earlier, courses under the WSQ framework are pegged to industry needs and standards. SSG does not do this in isolation. SSG involves industry representatives who identify the skill needs in the respective sector and validate the skill standards.

Ms Sun Xueling.

Just one additional clarification question. Of the top eight courses that I had mentioned, one data analytics course costs $1,326. I was thinking that, specifically for some courses that have a particular pertinence given the Committee on the Future Economy's recommendations, can more be done to subsidise such courses beyond the $500 SkillsFuture Credit?

I want to thank Ms Sun for her supplementary question. I want to assure her and Members that many of the courses are already highly subsidised by the Government to ensure that education and training courses are affordable and accessible. The $500 Credit can be used, on top of the course fee subsidies provided by the Government.

4 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) (a) whether a comprehensive review of the outcomes of SkillsFuture will be undertaken before the next tranche of SkillsFuture credits is announced; and (b) if so, what will be the parameters of such a review.

Mdm Speaker, the SkillsFuture movement is a long-term endeavour to develop and deepen skills and to develop Singaporeans holistically. It is also about inculcating professional pride and greater depth of expertise in every field. As we move away from relentless pursuit of academic qualifications for their own sake, we are nurturing essential traits that will be future-proofing our people, such as curiosity to learn, resilience and entrepreneurial dare. Most of all, the SkillsFuture initiative enhances our workers' employability, sharpens our industry competitiveness and opens up new opportunities.

As our schools and higher education system move in this direction, we are also boosting the skills deepening initiatives, not just in industries, but also in our training institutions. We are monitoring the progress and outcomes of all these initiatives.

SkillsFuture Credit, which was introduced in January last year, is part of this overall movement. We are keeping a close watch on the scheme. Key factors, such as utilisation rate and the Government's fiscal position, are part of our review for the next tranche of SkillsFuture Credit. In addition, we are also considering broader trends, such as the types of training that Singaporeans are using their Credits for, and the training participation rate for Singaporeans.

Ms Sun Xueling.

I thank the Parliamentary Secretary. As there was no timeline provided for when the next tranche of SkillsFuture Credits will be provided, could the Parliamentary Secretary further share when that is likely to take place? Because if I look at the annual Budget Debate as well as the release, quite of lot, that is, $500 billion, is being set aside every year for productivity and SkillsFuture-related special transfers. I would like to enquire when that assessment will be, so we can take note of the parameters to look out for and the outcomes we should be expecting.

Madam, I want to thank Ms Sun Xueling for her supplementary question. The review is an ongoing process and I shared the four considerations earlier. I want to assure Ms Sun that many of the courses are highly subsidised by the Government to ensure affordability. Members will recall that, in a recent update as at end-2016, 12 months after we introduced the $500 SkillsFuture Credit, 126,000 Singaporeans, that means 5% of Singaporeans, have already used their credits to take up courses.

We are now focused on outreach, which is why SSG is currently planning a major outreach exercise called SkillsFuture Engage where SSG will work very closely with the five Community Development Councils to help Singaporeans navigate the training landscape, the SkillsFuture credit directory and so on. There are more than 50 areas. We want to better understand what is the area of training that is suited for their learning and development, with a view to strengthening Singaporeans' ownership of their lifelong learning journey.

Mr Patrick Tay.

On behalf of the workers who have benefited immensely from the SkillsFuture Credit and also those who are constantly embracing lifelong learning, I urge the Ministry of Education to consider top-ups every three to five years. I just want to reiterate my call and also the fact that this has benefited quite a number of people who have had to fork out from their pockets in terms of the unfunded portions.

Mdm Speaker, I want to thank Mr Patrick Tay for his suggestions, which we will certainly look into. Allow me to reassure Mr Patrick Tay and Members that in addition to the SkillsFuture Credit of $500, we have also put in place different schemes to assist and encourage employers to develop their workers, especially older workers and low-income workers. Allow me to just cite an example, the enhanced training support scheme for small and medium enterprises and the Workfare Training Support (WTS) scheme. If we recall, based on this scheme, the employers are eligible for subsidies ranging from up to 50% or even up to 90% of the course fees for SSG-supported courses. So, we want to reassure Members that as long as Singaporeans are prepared to have a strong ownership of their lifelong learning journey and go for deepening of their skillsets, help will be available.

5 Mr Yee Chia Hsing asked the Minister for Law whether the existing laws can be strengthened to increase the penalties against the author or publisher of fake news on the Internet.

6 Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked the Minister for Law (a) whether the Ministry will consider setting up an agency to look into the proliferation of fake news on the Internet; (b) what are the Ministry's plans to correct false information in a timely manner; and (c) what is the Ministry's assessment on the likelihood that such news can be manipulated by foreign parties to influence society, including election outcomes and social cohesion.

Mdm Speaker, may I take Question Nos 5 and 6 together?

Yes, please.

I thank the hon Members for raising this. Fake news is a global phenomenon and it can result in serious consequences for individuals and society.

Fake news can be circulated easily, speedily, widely on social media. Therefore, the circulation of fake news has to be taken seriously. It is a problem that needs to be dealt with quickly. To put it in perspective, we are not talking about trivial factual inaccuracies, but falsehoods that can cause real harm. If you look internationally, one fake news story last year claimed that Mrs Hillary Clinton was running a paedophilia ring operating out of a pizza restaurant. People believed it. One man turned up with an assault rifle and opened fire in the restaurant.

Commentators have generally concluded that fake news can also be used as a powerful tool to interfere in domestic politics and domestic affairs. For example, before the United States (US) presidential elections, there were several fake news stories, huge numbers, claiming that Mrs Clinton sold weapons to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Before the "Brexit" referendum, misleading stories were published to fuel xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment. News articles published by foreign-controlled websites were said to be skewed and intended to influence a crucial referendum in Italy last year. These are not isolated incidents and countries are beginning to grapple with them.

Media reports have suggested that there were serious attempts to influence the US presidential elections, and perhaps they indeed were influenced, such as the "Brexit" referendum, the referendum in Italy, and there are attempts to influence the upcoming elections in Germany and France as well.

Again, there are suggestions that many of the fake news stories during the US elections were created by teenagers from a small town in Macedonia. They had no interest in the US elections. They were driven solely by money.

Of course, countries may well be involved as well, organised to attack and destabilise other countries during elections, and at other times. The whole idea is to spread sensational news, sensational headlines, influence the population, and arrive at the outcome that is wanted by a certain country outside. Often also it makes money, because the more people access their fake news, the more advertising revenue the originators earn. It is really easy money for the fake news factories.

Many countries have called for a tough stance to be taken against fake news, including the US, the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany, or to put in place more effective measures to counter fake news. Germany, for example, is considering a draft law that will require social networks, websites, including Facebook, to remove fake news which amounts to illegal content from their platforms. So, make the network itself responsible. Social networks which fail to comply with such a request could face very stiff fines. In Germany, it is being suggested that they will face fines of up to €50 million, which is a lot of money, under the draft legislation. The UK has also been reported to have launched a parliamentary probe into fake news, calling it a threat to democracy.

Fake news has been a problem in Singapore, not quite at the level that I have listed in other countries, but we see the phenomenon. It has not had that much of an impact yet, but you can predict that the same sequence of actors, foreign countries, foreign agencies, people sitting outside of Singapore using it to either destabilise our society or not caring whether it destabilises but doing it to make a lot of money. Both are problematic.

One example of a site that regularly purveyed fake news was, of course, "The Real Singapore". It generated fake news for profit. It is impossible to list all the fake news they published but I can give some examples. In 2015, Thaipusam, it claimed that there was a commotion between the Police and participants, and that this was sparked off by a complaint by a Filipino family. There was no such complaint. One of the editors altered an article from a reader and then inserted falsehoods into the article and passed it off as facts.

One of the editors was also charged for writing another false article, on puppy mills, which she passed off as being written by a Malay Singaporean. "The Real Singapore" owners made more than $500,000 in advertising revenues by publishing these completely false articles.

Yang Kaiheng, one of the owners who went to jail, boasted about earning $4,000 to $5,000 a month. Easy money! Evidence showed that the couple had paid off most of their A$190,000 (S$191,768) 30-year home loan in just 11 months. So, it is very attractive.

"The Real Singapore" has ceased operations, but one of its former editors and co-founder, Alex Tan Zhixiang, has since registered another website called the "States Times Review" which continues to publish completely false, fake news from outside Singapore.

Last August, it claimed that there was near-zero turnout for the late former President SR Nathan's funeral, and that kindergarten children were forced to attend. It was an attempt to paint him as an unpopular President. As I said, it has not reached the levels of what is happening elsewhere, but this is an example. There is a table that we have prepared which sets out some of the falsehoods from the "States Times Review" and my Ministry will load that together with my answer to the Parliamentary Question on our website. Even when the articles are not totally fake, they are highly misleading, and the whole purpose is to purvey falsehoods and mislead the public.

We have incidents of online hoaxes going viral in Singapore. In November last year, "All Singapore Stuff" published a letter supposed to have been written by someone called "Fernandez" with the headline, "Singapore new citizen feels cheated, now wants his old citizenship back". The headline was accompanied by a completely unrelated photograph of an innocent Singaporean, Mr Prakash Hetamsaria. You can imagine what happened. Mr Hetamsaria was subjected to online abuse and xenophobic racist comments. They enjoy this, "All Singapore Stuff". Truth is completely irrelevant.

Another article, again in November 2016 last year, again in "All Singapore Stuff", said the rooftop of Punggol Waterway Terraces had collapsed. I think Members would remember this. The Police and Singapore Civil Defence Force had to be mobilised and deployed to investigate the claim. Taxpayers pay the cost for all of this.

Another anonymous post widely circulated on social media falsely claimed that a childcare centre at River Valley Road made their children sleep on the floor and eat rotten fruits, suggesting child neglect. Of course, there was a public outcry, but you can imagine the impact on the childcare operator.

Hoaxes like these, articles like these, can have real-world consequences, if not quickly corrected. They can cause harm to Singaporeans, alarm to the public, emergency resources will have to be diverted, and the reputation of businesses and people can be completely, unreasonably, unfairly damaged. All because some nasty people seek to profit from this.

As I said, there is a much more serious dimension to all of this because fake news today, we must assume, can be used as an offensive weapon by foreign agencies and foreign countries. We have already seen examples of that − to get into your public's mind, to destabilise your public, to psychologically weaken them and impact your agencies. That is a very serious threat and it will be naive for us to believe that governments or state agencies do not engage in this. There is enough evidence that they do.

Under our current law, there are limited remedies to deal with these falsehoods. For example, it is an offence under the Telecommunications Act to transmit a message knowing that it is false. But these remedies are ineffective; they were really looking at a time before the new age as it were. The circulation of falsehoods can go viral very quickly today. So, we need to do more.

The Government is seriously considering how to address this fake news issue. We will announce our position once we have completed our review.

7 Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Ministry will review the relevant legislation to enhance the sentences for all types of sexual offences, with or without penetration and with or without violence, committed on minors.

8 Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Ministry will consider tabling new legislation or amending the Penal Code to introduce specific laws on child pornography.

Madam, can I take Question Nos 7 and 8, together?

Yes, please.

Mdm Speaker, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is working with other Ministries to review the laws relating to child pornography and sexual offences committed on minors, including whether the sentences need to be enhanced or whether even new laws need to be drafted. We have started the review, covering whether existing approaches need to be looked at or whether additional laws need to be put in or whether punishments need to be enhanced. It is quite a comprehensive review looking at the situation of minors and we will make an announcement when the review is completed.

Ms Tin Pei Ling.

Madam, I thank the Minister. I would like to ask broadly, when would we be able to expect the completion of the review? Secondly, can we reasonably expect the legislation and the penalties to be toughened and, if not, why might it be so?

Ms Tin is asking me to prejudge the review before the review takes place. There would not be a review asked if we felt that everything was okay as it is. But I should not jump in and say it is definitely going to go in a certain direction because, as I had said, we need to look at it. Perhaps, in some situations, the laws may be adequate but some processes, in terms of which charges to prefer or which charges to look at, that is not within the control of the Government. Which charges to prefer and how to proceed is an independent decision by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC). But as a matter of policy, we may need to have discussions with AGC without having to deal with individual cases. And there may be areas where there may be a lacuna as well.

We expect the review to be completed before the end of the year. I speak personally here, without having to prejudge the issue. I think that, in two areas, in the context of vulnerable victims, very young children who are subjected to sexual abuse, who are preyed upon, or who otherwise would have had. And there is a separate class of vulnerable victims, and by no means is this comprehensive; domestic helpers. They are human beings. They come here and do the work because we do not have enough people. But they have to be treated with a certain dignity and a certain respect for the law. They are not slaves. And if they are ill-treated to the extent where they suffer physical and mental torture, I think we also look at that. The laws already provide for punishments to be enhanced in the context of some vulnerable victims. So, we have to look at this.

My own personal view is that there is certainly a reasonable basis for taking the view that the punishments have to be stiffer. How that is to be arrived at, like I said, whether you have to necessarily legislate or you have to relook at some of the processes, policies, that is something that is part of the review. Speaking personally, I think they need to be stiffened.

Mr Louis Ng.

Madam, I just want to ask the Minister, he mentioned that they are going to include other vulnerable victims in the review as well. Could I check whether they will be including the mentally disabled as well?

Before that we are undertaking a review of the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). We would be looking at many of these issues. I am not going to comment as to whether we will specifically be looking at the mentally disabled. But I think Members can assume that we are doing quite a comprehensive review.

Mr Alex Yam.

Madam, I thank the Minister and welcome the review. Just a single clarification. Will the Ministry be considering any public consultation for this process?

Specifically for the vulnerable victims and the children. We will do an internal review. We have started that for some time now. I certainly intend that there will be public consultation for many of the Penal Code types of changes that they are thinking of. I do not want to commit my officials before we have crossed the bridge, but public consultation is something that we do quite frequently when it comes to these sorts of laws. If we do not do it, we will explain in Parliament why. But I think it is likely that we will do it.

9 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the availability ratio of 2-room BTO flats to the number of applicants; (b) whether there are plans to increase the number of BTO flats for singles; (c) whether priority can be given to applicants who have applied at least three times but were unsuccessful; and (d) whether more 2-room flexi flats can be reserved for singles as they have fewer affordable options compared to others.

Madam, in 2016, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) received an average of 2.7 applications from families, elderly and singles for every 2-room flexi Built-To-Order (BTO) flat that was offered.

Singles were allowed to buy 2-room flexi flats in non-mature estates from July 2013. And to address the strong demand, HDB has increased the 2-room flexi flat supply in non-mature estates from 320 units in 2012 to an average of 4,000 units per year between 2014 and 2016.

Forty percent of 2-room flexi flats are set aside for elderly applicants, including singles aged 55 and above. These applicants enjoy priority allocation if they apply under the Senior Priority Scheme to age-in-place or move nearer to their parents. The remaining flat supply is divided equally between non-elderly singles and families. In addition, any balance of flats not taken up by the elderly or families will be offered to singles.

Singles can also consider the option of buying a resale flat on the open market. With housing grants totaling up to $55,000, resale flats have become more affordable for singles. First-timer singles buying resale flats jointly can enjoy the same amount of housing grants as first-timer families, which means up to $110,000.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah.

Mdm Speaker, I would like to ask one supplementary question. I have come across several cases of singles as well as retirees who want to right-size. They have tried six or seven times for 2-room flats but are not successful. So, in cases like that, where they have tried five times, six times, seven times, can the Ministry look into ways to help them, instead of letting them keep trying?

Madam, as I have mentioned earlier, if you look at the overall picture, the situation for elderly singles is getting better because if we look at the application rates for the elderly group as a whole, the success rate and the application rates, are not too bad. The one group where the application rates are still very high are the non-elderly singles because 2-room flexi flats can go to the elderly, non-elderly singles and the families. So, non-elderly singles, because we have opened up to allow them to buy 2-room flats in 2013, there is still a backlog to clear. We are still clearing the backlog. Today, the application rate for this particular group is 6.

6. This was in 2016. So, it is about seven. And at an application rate of seven, this means that you have to try several times before you are successful in getting a 2-room flat for the non-elderly singles group.

So, the way to resolve this is really to try and ramp up the supply of 2-room flats, which we are doing, and we hope to clear the backlog over the next two years.

10 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for National Development (a) in the past three years, how many enforcement actions have been taken by HDB on illegal subletting and/or overcrowding in HDB flats; and (b) what are the measures that the Ministry is taking to ensure that all HDB flat owners comply with the regulation, including inter-Ministry joint collaboration.

Madam, Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats are meant for occupation by the flat owners and family members. However, HDB flat owners can sublet their flat after meeting the required minimum occupation period (MOP) and obtaining HDB's prior approval.

HDB takes a serious view of unauthorised subletting and/or overcrowding. When letting out the flat, flat owners have to ensure that the number of sub-tenants does not exceed the allowable maximum, which varies with flat type. Failure to obtain prior approval or observe the maximum number of sub-tenants allowed is a breach of the Lease Agreement, and action can and will be taken against the errant flat owners.

In the last three years, there were 70 cases where enforcement action was taken against errant flat owners for unauthorised subletting and/or overcrowding. HDB conducts checks and investigations on flats suspected of unauthorised subletting and/or overcrowding based on feedback from the public. HDB itself also conducts its own random checks on flats, and works with agencies like the Police, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) or the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), when there are suspected infringements under the Penal Code or relevant Acts under these agencies.

To educate the public about subletting rules, HDB also publicises actions taken against flat owners in cases of unauthorised subletting or overcrowding.

Mr Gan Thiam Poh.

I thank the Minister for the comprehensive reply. I would just like to ask how often do HDB officers carry out surprise checks on all the owners who sublet HDB flats.

Madam, these are part of HDB's operations and I would rather not say how often HDB does it, in case people try to second guess HDB's operations. Suffice to say HDB will do regular random checks by itself but, on top of that, whenever HDB receives feedback, HDB will also do a check on the particular unit.

Mr Cedric Foo.

Madam, can I ask the Minister whether it also makes sense, on top of the number of tenants, to review the length of tenancy that HDB will allow, because a high turnover of tenants also creates a lot of disamenities?

Madam, there is already a regulation around short-term stays. That already exists today. So, I am not sure whether the Member is asking for even tighter rules around that.

Mr Cedric Foo.

Can the Minister advise on the length the short-term stays and whether it is adequate?

Meaning you want it to be longer? We will study it. That is something that we continue to review. So, whether or not we should review the number of occupants, which is something that we are reviewing already. This follows from the earlier discussion we had in this House on the Planning Act changes and several Members had suggested that the numbers in the HDB flats ought to be reduced further. We are studying that and we can take into consideration the Member's suggestion also on duration of lease.

11 Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Police will consider taking action to protect its reputation when persons make false and malicious allegations against the Police.

I thank the Member for asking this question. Madam, my Ministry takes a serious view of false and malicious allegations against the Police.

I refer Members to a recent Public Perception Survey where 91% of Singaporeans had said that Police had demonstrated the core values of courage, loyalty, integrity and fairness when interacting with them. We will always have some people who are not happy but 91% said this. Over the years, through the consistent upholding and exemplification of these values, the Police have built an enormous reservoir of trust and confidence with the public. That is a huge benefit, not just to the Police but also to Singaporeans as a whole.

Whenever any allegation is received, the first task of the Police is to investigate the allegation quite carefully and thoroughly. If the conclusion of the investigation is that the allegation is false or unwarranted, then the first thing the Police will do after making an assessment, if necessary, is to issue a public response to say that this is untrue. They will correct and rebut the falsehoods.

For example, The Online Citizen (TOC) glorifies in running the Police down with a series of untrue stories. I referred to some stories last year on their untruths. In a recent case, TOC alleged that Police officers had accused a wheelchair-bound man of motorcycle theft. It was designed to make people angry: falsehood. The Police corrected the allegation within a day. The man was never accused of being involved in any motor vehicle theft, nor was he asked to provide any statement at a Police station.

The Member has asked what actions the Police can take. We are considering the adequacy of our laws to ensure sufficient protection against unfounded attacks on the reputation and integrity of our public institutions, like the Police.

Do not get me wrong. It is not to say that the Police do not make mistakes. It is not to say that some policemen do not commit offences. They do; they are also human. Therefore, there can be no objection to comments, feedback, fair criticism, complaints. And all of them will be looked at. This is Singapore. You read of Police Officers, other public servants, being charged in Court where criminal action is warranted and they face the consequences. That is why people have faith in the system. It will not be covered up.

What is objectionable are deliberate falsehoods. If there is no wrongdoing or misconduct and you deliberately accuse, to pull down the institution by manufacturing lies, and if public trust in Police is eroded and you can no longer enforce the rule of law effectively, all of us will be the worse for it. So, we have to take the question of fake news about Police and other agencies seriously and deal with it.

Mr Lim Biow Chuan.

I notice that over the past few months when people made false and malicious allegations against the Police, the Police issue a correction. Unless the Government takes action to protect the integrity of Government institutions, I am concerned that the trust and faith in Government institutions will be undermined. May I ask the Minister whether the Ministry of Home Affairs would consider implementing or taking stern action to make it a punishable offence, make it a jailable offence, for people to make false and malicious allegations, which are not the same as what the Minister earlier said, which is, that when officers are investigated. But I am referring to false and malicious allegations against the Police.

I thank the Member for the points he made. I will distinguish between three types of situations.

First, genuine feedback. It could be in error where the person could have made a mistake, but genuine, well-intentioned feedback or complaints because there is a difference of viewpoints, allegations based on an honest belief in certain facts. That is one category. That is understandable. Generally, there should be no consequences for that.

The second category where the complaint is justified, feedback is justified, and we must take action.

The third category is what the Member is focused on, which is, false, deliberate, malicious allegations. We are not talking about errors, we are talking about deliberate falsehoods, malice. I agree with the Member, it has to be taken seriously, and I think the time has come for us not to simply rebut but to actually actively deal with it, so that the people who seek to profit from such conduct will actually feel the pain of it. We are looking at it and something will be done.

The following question stood in the name of Dr Chia Shi-Lu –

12 To ask the Minister for Communications and Information (a) how will the Ministry ensure that SingPost improves its service quality; (b) what are the underlying causes for the numerous changes in its senior management team; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider deprivatising this essential public service.

Question No 12, Madam.

Mdm Speaker, SingPost operates a diverse business, offering domestic and international postal services, as well as logistics and e-commerce services. SingPost's Basic Mail Services are subjected to one of the most stringent Quality of Service standards in the world − SingPost must deliver 99% of local basic letters destined for the Central Business District (CBD), and 98% for those destined for non-CBD areas, by the next working day. Since 2014, SingPost has invested in new machines and enhanced its staff training programme to improve mail sorting and delivery of letters. SingPost has also engaged an independent third-party auditor to conduct regular audits on its service and standards. As a result of these measures, the incidents of feedback received by SingPost concerning mis-deliveries of local basic letters have dropped from 279 in 2013 to 50 in 2016.

The Member also asked about the changes to SingPost's senior management team. Mdm Speaker, as a publicly-listed company, SingPost is responsible for putting together the best management team it needs to deliver on its commercial mission. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), as the regulator, focuses on ensuring that SingPost fulfils its obligations as a Public Postal Licensee with regard to meeting the postal needs of the public.

The Member also asked whether my Ministry will consider deprivatising public postal services. Mdm Speaker, Singapore fully liberalised the postal market in 2007 to build an open economy, strengthen Singapore's position as a business hub, and catalyse growth. Regulatory frameworks, such as the postal Quality of service (QoS), ensure that the public postal system remains good and reliable. Today, four companies, including SingPost, have been licensed to deliver letters in Singapore. Our postal rates continue to be among the lowest among economies, such as the United States, Hong Kong and Norway. For parcel delivery, which does not require a licence from IMDA, it is fully open and competitive, and many local and international players provide services in Singapore today. As such, SingPost has every commercial incentive to improve its services. The rationale behind our decision to liberalise the postal market still remains relevant today, and we have no reason to believe that deprivatisation will necessarily result in better outcomes and service quality for the postal sector in general.

Mdm Speaker, I would like to assure the House that IMDA will continue to safeguard consumer interests and ensure that SingPost provides reliable and quality postal services for Singapore.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah.

Mdm Speaker, I have one question. Over the last few months, I have been receiving feedback from residents that letters were delivered to the wrong address or they are expecting letters but never received them. So, upon receiving such feedback, what action is being taken and how are investigations being done?

Madam, it depends on whether the feedback is sent to SingPost or IMDA. If it is sent to IMDA, we will look into it seriously because, as I said earlier, we hold SingPost to the quality standards as part of the licensee agreement. I would like to assure the Member that if there is any feedback on any mis-delivered letter or a letter did not arrive, we will look into it seriously to ensure that they conform to the standards.

13 Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) if he can provide a progress update on (i) the plan to second up to 20 public officers to interested Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) under the Local Enterprise and Association Development-Plus programme and (ii) the status of the $30 million that was set aside in Budget 2016 to support TACs to develop their capabilities.

The Local Enterprise and Association Development-Plus (LEAD+) programme was introduced at Budget 2016 to help Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) raise their internal competencies. Through LEAD+ projects, TACs can strengthen their leadership and secretariat teams, improve organisational processes, and deliver new and value-added services to their members. The LEAD+ programme is an expansion of the existing LEAD programme, which supports TACs in implementing industry initiatives.

As of March 2017, the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board (SPRING) has approved eight LEAD+ projects, at up to $8.1 million in total funding. These projects are spearheaded by the Federation of Merchants' Associations, Singapore (FMAS), Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association (SFMA), Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF), Singapore Logistics Association (SLA), Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), Singapore Precision Engineering and Technology Association (SPETA), Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC) and Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS). We expect more TACs to be coming on board over the next few years.

Under LEAD+, support is available for the secondment of public officers to TACs to help strengthen their management and processes as well as drive industry transformation. Efforts to second public officers to TACs are not new. Over the past five years, SPRING has been active in seconding officers to TACs on a project basis, to drive implementation of key programmes, such as the small and medium enterprises (SME) Talent Programme and SME Centres. Under this arrangement, 13 officers have been seconded since 2013.

Since the launch of LEAD+ in 2016, two more officers have confirmed their secondment with TACs. For example, one officer from SPRING has been seconded to SFMA to assist them in strengthening their internal management capabilities. This includes developing a succession plan for leadership renewal, putting in place systems to better engage and manage members, and enhancing the existing governance framework. We will continue to facilitate more of such win-win secondment arrangements for interested TACs.

14 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) (a) whether the Ministry will set up a committee to look into any attempts against profiteering with the rise in water and electricity rates; (b) whether the Ministry will look into setting up a mobile app to get feedback on profiteering; and (c) whether there are plans to guide and assist businesses to cope with the increase in business costs due to such rises.

15 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) whether the Ministry intends to reactivate the anti-profiteering task force to step up surveillance against possible profiteering activities due to recently announced water price hikes.

Madam, can I have your permission to take Question Nos 14 and 15 together, please?

Yes, please.

Madam, the measures on water tariffs, diesel and carbon tax announced at Budget 2017 are targeted and are expected to have a moderate impact on overall business costs, with the impact differentiated across different industries. Utilities cost, which includes water and electricity costs, accounts for a relatively small share of business costs for firms in the services sector, at less than 1%, on average, for most services industries.

Electricity prices are revised every quarter according to prevailing gas prices, which are indexed to global oil prices. There has been a general decline in our electricity tariffs over the past three years due to the low global oil price. The current electricity tariff is around 16.9% lower than that in the second quarter of 2014.

The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) will step up its education efforts to encourage consumers to exercise their choice and make informed purchasing decisions. Consumers can opt to buy from businesses which continue to offer competitive prices and products that cater to their consumption preferences. CASE will also keep watch on price increases and look into feedback on alleged profiteering. Consumers who wish to provide feedback can go through CASE's hotline, website or mobile app. They can also do so through Government feedback channels, such as the feedback unit Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry @ Home (REACH). Hence, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) does not see the need to set up a committee to look into profiteering at this point.

Madam, the Government will continue to monitor the impact of the Budget 2017 measures on industries and calibrate our economic support policies as appropriate. The most sustainable strategy for businesses to manage cost increases and stay competitive is to transform by upgrading capabilities for higher levels of productivity and innovation. Our SMEs can approach any of the 12 SME Centres for customised service and advice on business development and how they can tap on Government assistance to strengthen their businesses. In particular, SPRING's Capability Development Grant (CDG) provides support for SMEs in building capabilities to grow their businesses by defraying up to 70% of the qualifying project costs.

Through the Local Enterprise and the Association Development (LEAD) scheme, SPRING also works with our Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) to strengthen their internal capabilities and the roles they can play in driving industry transformation and growth.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah.

Mdm Speaker, I have one supplementary question. With the impending increase in water price in July, a lot of the fear among residents is that the price of a cup of coffee may go up. One dollar may become $1.15, and then next, it may become $1.

30. I would like to ask the Minister of State because he mentioned earlier that if there is feedback, to report it to CASE. Do they have to go down personally or just a phone call will do, or will it be made easier for residents to give their feedback?

Madam, I thank the Member for her clarification question. As I had said earlier in my reply, there are various avenues to feed back to CASE, either through their hotline, mobile app or website.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa.

Madam, from the Minister of State's reply, it seems that CASE will be the agency that will be the watchdog for anti-profiteering. I would like to ask the Minister of State whether CASE does have the resources and the regulatory power, as well as the investigative resources, to do that because there are cases all around the neighbourhood and sometimes you may just want to report, and whether they have that ability to do that. I think that is important.

Madam, pertaining to the issue of coffee price increase which I think both Members are asking about in the neighbourhood shops, it is quite easy to understand that the cost of coffee is not just on water alone. There are other issues that businesses cope with, like rental costs, workers' cost, as well as their pricing strategy. Price increases can happen with or without an increase in water price, and businesses do make their calculated decisions on how to price their product.

In that sense, this is where education on consumers' rights and choices is also important. Coffee can range from a simple 3-in-1 that you buy as a packet or it can be as expensive as a latte. So, in between, the price range is quite huge and businesses do make their decisions on how to price the price of a cup of coffee. Consumers, therefore, have to make a choice to also encourage businesses to price the product to be sustainable in terms of getting the right customers. If there is a need to feedback, they can send it to CASE, and if CASE feels that there is sufficient indication that there is a consistent amount of complaints coming in about one particular retailer, then we can look at how best to facilitate further investigations.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah.

I would like to ask the Minister of State, for coffee shops in the neighbourhood, when one coffee shop increases by, say, 10 cents, very soon, the rest will follow suit. So, how is CASE going to handle cases like this? For example, will hawker centres set the standard of the price of drinks? Actually, the residents have no choice. Once the price goes up in one shop, the rest will follow suit.

Madam, I would like to say that sweeping statements like this saying that all coffee shops will raise prices just because one shop raises it, is not fair to all retailers because I think there are also retailers that came out and said that they would not increase their prices. For example, in an article published in TODAY newspaper on 23 February 2017, in response to the increase in water prices, several coffee chains here, including Toast Box and Ya Kun Toast, have said that they would not increase their prices in the near term. So, I think there are different pricing strategies by retailers. We should not make sweeping statements here to say that just because one coffee shop increases its price, every other coffee shop would necessarily follow suit. And if they do so, then I think consumers should make their choices and decide whom to patronise.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah.

Mdm Speaker, if I remember, I read in the newspapers that the association for coffee shops said that they would not increase the price in July. But from now to July, there is no increase in water price, of course, there is no price increase justifiable from now until July. But what will happen after July, nobody knows. And from observations in the past, it is quite true that when the price in one goes up, the rest, one by one, will go up. So, that is the concern. That is why the residents are so upset about the increase in the water price. It is because they worry about the increase subsequently in the prices of food and drinks.

Madam, I think we are making an assumption that the price will increase after July, which is in the future. At this point in time, let us not prejudge the businesses' behaviour. And if it so happens then, then I think this is where CASE's hotline, website and mobile apps will be available for feedback to be received.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa.

Madam, I just want to find out from the Minister of State why do we not consider setting up an anti-profiteering task force like what we did some years back or perhaps consider having the Competition Commission to look into this task of anti-profiteering.

Madam, I think the previous committee on profiteering was set up in response to a more broad-based increase in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which affects all goods and services where it can then lead to a very broad-based impact on overall costs. This water price increase is very targeted. It affects business segments more than others, and even in the retail services sector, as I have said earlier, the cost increase is not expected to be more than 1% or 2%. So, we do not expect a broad-based impact on the actual costs of businesses. We will continue to keep a watchful eye on how this will impact, say, after the price goes up in July.

Secondly, the Competition Commission looks at anti-competitive behaviour, not necessarily to look at profiteering. Businesses all need to make profits, and it is very hard to prove what exactly is over-profiteering because businesses must take into account the cost of their business as well. Rental price will increase over these few months and that leads businesses to increase the price of their products and services. If we were to impose certain restrictions on that, then we are going to make it difficult for businesses to price their products accordingly, to take their costs into account.

Mr Lim Biow Chuan.

Mdm Speaker, if I may just further address some of the concerns since CASE has been mentioned a couple of times. I wanted to request consumers to also exercise their right of choice, because if all consumers do not exercise their right of choice and just pay whatever a coffee shop demands, then, of course, you will be supporting the price increases arbitrarily.

From CASE's point of view, we will continue to monitor prices of drinks in coffee shops and in the event that one coffee shop raises its price more than others, we will be happy to publicise coffee shops which have not raised the price of their coffee and other drinks. Basically, this is to create a more competitive situation where consumers then have a choice. I would urge consumers also to refer feedback to CASE and we will follow up with MTI if there is a need to do so.

Mr Louis Ng.

I just want to ask why exactly are we diverting the feedback towards CASE, which is a non-Government organisation, instead of MTI taking the feedback and investigating; and, secondly, whether MTI feels that CASE has sufficient manpower and resources to take up the additional caseload now.

Madam, in my reply, I did not say that the consumer cannot feedback to MTI or any of the Government agencies, even through the REACH portal, for example. They can do so. But CASE, as an organisation that helps to educate consumers, plays an important role here in helping consumers to understand their purchasing power as consumers and to be able to exercise that. That, in itself, is a good signal to the business community to price their products in a reasonable way.

Next question. Assoc Prof Randolph Tan.

16 Assoc Prof Randolph Tan asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether there are schemes targeted for hawker stall operators and their workers to get temporary job placement or training when their hawker centres are closed for extended periods for repairs and renovation works.

Mdm Speaker, as part of the maintenance of hawker centres, cyclical repairs and redecorations (R&R) works are carried out by the National Environment Agency (NEA) or the respective Town Councils every five to seven years. During such works, the centres may be closed for up to three months.

Stallholders who are unable to operate their stalls due to the closure of the centres are usually granted rental remission for the duration of the closure due to the R&R works. Stallholders who wish to take the opportunity to attend training can apply for courses and training grants through SkillsFuture Singapore. Those who wish to explore temporary employment may also visit Workforce Singapore's career centres or its online job matching portal, Jobs Bank, for employment assistance.

NEA will set up a one-stop Information and Service Centre for hawkers in the second half of this year. The centre will, among other services, provide information on training courses on the hawker trade. Hawkers and their hawker assistants who are interested in attending such courses may visit the centre to obtain more information.

17 Mr Kok Heng Leun asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources in light of the permanent closure of the Sungei Road flea market (a) how many of the vendors have been offered assistance and what kind of assistance has been rendered; and (b) how many vendors are not receiving these assistance and why are they not receiving them.

Mdm Speaker, the site where the Sungei Road Hawking Zone (SRHZ) is located will be used for ground preparation works to facilitate future residential development, and the last day of operation of the SRHZ will be 10 July 2017.

When the Government resettled street hawkers into markets and hawker centres in the early years, 31 rag-and-bone men were excluded from the resettlement due to their trade and were issued with permits to continue operating at the Sungei Road site. Of these 31 original permit holders, only 11 operate at SRHZ today.

My Ministry has offered the 11 original permit holders the option of operating lock-up stalls at selected hawker centres in the city area at subsidised rental rates after the closure of SRHZ. Rental will be waived for the first year and a 50% rebate off the subsidised rent will be given for the second year on a goodwill basis. Five of them have so far indicated interest to take up the offer.

The Social Service Offices (SSOs) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) have also offered to facilitate financial assistance and provide employment services to the 11 original permit holders should they wish to exit the trade. So far, one of them has been granted financial assistance. Further engagements between the SSOs and some of the remaining permit holders are ongoing.

The Government will also reach out to the other users at SRHZ who are not original permit holders in the coming months to share information on the financial and employment assistance available under existing Government schemes, as well as channels through which they can continue their trade should they wish to do so.

Mr Kok Heng Leun.

I thank the Minister for the detailed answers. May I know which agencies will be coordinating all this assistance to those who are not part of the original permit holders because, at the moment, I understand that no one has actually approached them?

Secondly, I also understand that the Association for the Recycling of Second Hand Goods had wanted to engage in a dialogue with the National Environment Agency (NEA) on alternative sites. However, there is no such dialogue at this moment. May I know why there is no such dialogue, and would NEA or the Ministry consider having conversations with them?

For the first question, Mdm Speaker, NEA will be the lead agency to coordinate with the other agencies, the Mayors, and also ask other Advisers who may be the Advisers in the constituencies where these hawkers live, so that if they approach them, they will know where to refer them to. For this, the lead agency will be NEA.

For the second question, I think we have to note that SRHZ does have a long history, from the 1930s. And for some Singaporeans, they hold strong memories. But, again, we must recognise there were really many places that have moved on and where street hawking was quite popular and even a common sight in the past. Over the years, in the 1970s and 1980s, many of them have moved on. They are now housed in our hawker centres as well as markets and I believe many of them have also done well.

Despite all these, we have retained SRHZ so that the original 31 rag-and-bone permit holders can continue their trade. But over the years, we have seen a fair number of others who have come to SRHZ. They were not the original 31. In fact, after so many years, only 11 are still operating there.

Now, despite all the disamenities and even the residents accommodating the hawkers for these many, many years, for example, the obstruction of public roads, storage of goods in public places, sometimes people sleeping around in the residential estates, we have continued to accommodate these until such time when the place would be required for development.

I am surprised that the Association for the Recycling of Second Hand Goods is surprised that we are moving on because we have been engaging everybody since 2012. We have already told them that when the time comes, notice would be given and we have to move on. So, the time has come and we have engaged enough and I think to meet them again is to almost promise that we will change our stance and that redevelopment would not start.

Mr Kok Heng Leun.

I thank the Minister for the clarification. I think the Association understood that the SRHZ would be removed. What the Minister has spoken seems to show that such micro economy is actually a livelihood for some other people who have since joined. So, I think they are really looking for an alternative site which can be managed in such a way that all the disamenities that the Minister was talking about can be mitigated.

I would urge the Ministry to consider engaging with them so that we can look at such possibilities, especially since such outdoor markets, as the Minister said, we have been losing them and this is probably the last one. Having one would actually be good for our cultural landscape.

I empathise with the pleading of our Member. I think we may stand to lose something which is very important or memorable for some of us. But then, again, we also have to balance this with the needs of our country and to be fair to the many, many other hawkers who have moved on, gone to markets. And for those who need to peddle their wares occasionally, they have also been able to do well in trade fairs where they pay for the rents and are well-managed so that the disamenities mentioned do not exist.

So, if the question is: are there alternatives? There are alternatives. But should we put up another site like this which is deemed to be like Sungei Road but not at Sungei Road, I do not think this is something we want to dwell on further.

18 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry can regularly collect and publish data on the percentage of the workforce who are engaged in freelance work or employed in contract positions and who are seeking employment in a permanent full-time job.

Mdm Speaker, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has been publishing data on the number and percentage of the workforce who are engaged in own account work, commonly known as freelancers, since 1991, and term contract work since 2006. This data is collected and released on an annual basis as part of the Labour Force in Singapore report.

For term contract employees, we do not collect data on the proportion who are seeking permanent employment. Both permanent and term contract workers are in employer-employee relationships which are governed by various employment laws, such as the Employment Act, the Employment Claims Act, Central Provident Fund (CPF) Act and Work Injury Compensation Act. Having both options for both permanent and contract employment helps to keep the labour market flexible and responsive. Employers may wish to employ employees on term contracts when, for example, the job is available on a short-term or project basis. At the same time, some employees prefer to enter into term contracts to meet their own needs for flexibility.

As explained during the Committee of Supply debate in March, for own account workers, meaning the freelancers, we have started collecting data on the proportion who are not freelancing as their preferred choice since last year, and will do so and publish this on an annual basis. This additional information is useful to better understand how to support own account workers, who face unique issues different from those in employer-employee relationships.

Those who prefer permanent employment, both contract workers and freelancers, can tap on the Adapt and Grow initiatives, where we will work with them to facilitate their pursuit of preferred employment options.

Mr Leon Perera.

I thank the Minister for his very comprehensive reply. Just two supplementary questions. Firstly, a clarification or confirmation, if you like. Am I correct to say the Minister has said that this data on freelancers, the proportion of freelancers who would prefer to have permanent appointment, would be collected and published from next year onwards? I just wanted to confirm that.

My second question is on the fixed term contract workers. Will the Ministry consider collecting data on how many of them are currently on fixed term contracts but would prefer or are seeking to move to permanent employment? Would the Ministry consider collecting and publishing that data on a regular basis? That may be helpful to assess our effectiveness in generating permanent employment for the economy as a whole. I believe for part-time employment, there is a similar metric that is currently collected and published on part-time workers who would like to work more hours or would like to work full-time.

Mdm Speaker, let me repeat what I said in my reply. It is that, for freelancers, we have started collecting the information since last year. I released the data in the Committee of Supply this year as far as freelancers are concerned, meaning we do release the proportion of freelancers who are freelancing not as their preferred choice. That data has been made available for 2016 as I had released that in this House in the Committee of Supply.

The Member asked whether MOM would collect similar data for those on term contract, meaning that for those on contract, how many of them would prefer to have permanent contract. In my reply, I have explained that having both the permanent and the contract employment is important for both the employers as well as for the employees because it is important to keep both options available to keep our labour market flexible, responsive. But the main point which I have highlighted in my reply is that whether they are on permanent employment or term contract, both enjoy the employer-employee relationship. So, in other words, as long as they are on contract, whether it is permanent or short-term, both are employees of the employers. Therefore, they are protected under all the employment laws.

With that in mind, we have no intention to collect additional data, in terms of how many of those on term contract would prefer to have full-time employment. If they want to have permanent employment, they can always tap on our Adapt and Grow initiatives, where we will work with them to pursue the employment options of their choice.

19 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Manpower what is the rationale for the Ministry's reluctance to provide a breakdown of the number of foreign domestic workers in Singapore by nationality.

Mdm Speaker, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not provide a breakdown of the number of foreign workers, including foreign domestic workers, by nationality as it is not in Singapore's interest to do so. Disclosing such detailed data may create sensitivities among certain groups of people here and also in the countries of origin.

Mr Dennis Tan.

I thank the Minister of State for the answer. Just a quick clarification. In countries, such as Australia, they publish data on a quarterly basis on the numbers of work visa holders, broken down by countries of origin and, with respect, I do not see how sensitive this can be. Perhaps, the Minister of State can clarify this further and would the Ministry reconsider this position?

I thank the Member for the interest in this topic. I remember at the last Sitting, the Member also asked the same question. With regard to the population's statistics in Australia, I remember the Deputy Prime Minister, in one of his Committee of Supply speeches, had addressed that. I would not want to delve into the details. But suffice to say that Australia and Singapore are quite different in terms of population size and also in terms of the domestic workers and the foreign workers. In Australia, you hardly see any foreign domestic workers.

Coming back to addressing the Member's question, why we do not disclose this piece of data is because of the sensitivity involved. Because of the sensitivity, I would rather not go into the details of why the data cannot be disclosed. But I hope the Member would understand that this is done for the national interest and also for the interest of protecting the Singaporean households.

20 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Health (a) what powers does the Ministry have to ensure good governance at private clinic groups to prevent the disruption of primary care services, and (b) whether the payment of medical claims by third party administrators to private clinics should be regulated to safeguard the financial viability of private clinics.

Mdm Speaker, under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act (PHMCA), the Ministry regulates clinics to ensure that they provide a safe and good standard of care to their patients. This includes the continuity of care for patients.

Where a licensed operator intends to cease operating, or let, sell or in any way dispose of its medical clinic, it is required to notify the Ministry of Health (MOH) of its intention in writing not less than 30 days before he takes such an action. In order to ensure continuity of care for the clinic's patients, the operator must properly transfer its patients' medical information to another licensed clinic of the patients' choice.

Third Party Administrators (TPAs) provide a range of intermediary services to healthcare providers, such as helping them participate in employer medical benefit programmes, processing of medical claims and concierge services. These are private contractual arrangements between the TPA and healthcare providers which MOH does not directly intervene in. However, the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) has provided guidance to doctors on appropriate fee arrangements through its Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (ECEG) that emphasise on the ethical practice and appropriate care so that the well-being of the patients will not be compromised.

Order. End of Question Time.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), provided that Members had not asked for questions standing in their names to be postponed to a later Sitting day or withdrawn, written answers to questions not reached by the end of Question Time are reproduced in the Appendix.]

[(proc text) "to give effect to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007, to make provisions generally for matters connected therewith and to make related amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act (Chapter 179 of the 1996 Revised Edition)", (proc text)]

[(proc text) presented by the Senior Minister of State for Transport (Mrs Josephine Teo); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available Sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. (proc text)]

[(proc text) "to amend the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act (Chapter 243 of the 1999 Revised Edition)", (proc text)]

[(proc text) presented by the Senior Minister of State for Transport (Mrs Josephine Teo); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available Sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. (proc text)]

[(proc text) "to give effect to the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and to provide for connected matters", (proc text)]

[(proc text) presented by the Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Mr Desmond Lee); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available Sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. (proc text)]

[(proc text) "to rename and amend the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act (Chapter 257 of the 2001 Revised Edition) and to make consequential amendments to certain other Acts", (proc text)]