Hansard, Wednesday, 16 October 2024

1 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for Transport following the Fare Review Exercise 2024 (a) what is the estimated financial impact on public transport operators and the overall sustainability of the public transport system from deferring the maximum allowable quantum for fares; (b) how will the deferment of the remaining quantum affect the funding available for planned service improvements or infrastructure projects; (c) what is the Ministry’s assessment of potential scenarios for fare adjustments in the next review; and (d) whether there will be a continued phased approach.

2 Mr Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant asked the Minister for Transport (a) what are the reasons that led the Public Transport Council to recommend a fare revision for bus and train fares to take effect at the end of December 2024; (b) what steps have the transport operators taken thus far to improve their service levels to commuters in light of fare revisions in the last three to five years; and (c) what are the big-ticket cost factors that the public transport operators have to watch closely in their operations.

3 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether there are projections or analyses on how the cumulative fare adjustments recommended by the Public Transport Council for the past three years and in this year's review, will impact the cost burden on average commuters compared to past adjustments for different income groups; and (b) how does the Ministry assess the value of each Public Transport Voucher (PTV) in the current and future exercises to ensure fare adjustments remain fair and manageable for all commuters, especially lower-income households.

Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 1 to 3 on today's Order Paper together?

Yes, go ahead.

Thank you, Sir. I will also be addressing a related question filed by Ms Poh Li San at an earlier Sitting.

Mr Speaker, in setting public transport fares, the Public Transport Council (PTC) aims to keep fares affordable for commuters, while ensuring that our public transport system remains financially sustainable. In deciding on the fare adjustment to implement each year, PTC is guided by the fare adjustment formula, while also taking into consideration economic and social factors such as fare affordability, rising costs faced by both the public and the public transport industry, and the current economic climate.

Sir, providing a safe, reliable and resilient public transport system is a key priority for the Ministry of Transport (MOT), Land Transport Authority (LTA) and PTC. This includes working with the public transport operators and unions to keep up service and reliability levels for the benefit of commuters. LTA has put in place different measures to hold the operators accountable for meeting their service and reliability standards. For example, by imposing penalties for lapses and setting incentives for good performance. So, there are carrots and sticks within the system to incentivise the rail and bus operators to maintain high service and reliability standards, without directly using the fare review exercise to achieve this outcome.

Mr Neil Parekh asked how PTC arrived at its decision for this year’s fare review exercise. For this year’s exercise, the output from the fare adjustment formula is 3.3%, driven by core inflation and wage growth in 2023 and partially moderated by a decrease in energy prices from a peak in 2022. After adding the deferred quantum of 15.6% from last year, the maximum allowable fare adjustment quantum is 18.9%.

Similar to the 2023 fare review exercise, PTC decided to raise fares by 6%, which is less than one-third of the maximum quantum, to keep fares affordable for commuters, while ensuring that the public transport system remains financially sustainable. The fare adjustment will be implemented in end December, similar to previous years.

Ms Poh Li San asked about fare increases in other cities. Different cities have different fare structures and revenue models, including having public transport operators that rely heavily on non-fare business such as property development and management of retail spaces, to supplement their income. We have seen some cities like Hong Kong and London that have adjusted their fares each year, while other cities like Seoul took a different approach, where they did not adjust fares for many years before making significant increases over the past one to two years to account for higher operating costs.

In Singapore, PTC has taken the approach of ensuring that fare adjustments are gradual so that the impact on commuters is more manageable. To Mr Saktiandi’s question on the impact of fare adjustments on affordability, PTC monitors this using the Public Transport Affordability Indicator, which measures the proportion of household income spent on public transport. For lower-income households, this proportion has fallen from 3.1% in 2014 to 2.4% in 2023. For average public transport users, the figure has also reduced from 2.2% in 2014 to 1.7% in 2023. These proportions are expected to remain similar for 2024.

The Government supports PTC’s approach. This is why we will provide about $250 million of additional subsidies in the coming year to cover the funding gap arising from the deferred fare adjustment quantum of 12.9%. This commitment by the Government gave PTC the assurance to grant a smaller fare increase to mitigate the impact on commuters, knowing that the higher costs of providing public transport has been accounted for.

The $250 million is in addition to the $2 billion annual subsidies to fund bus and train services as well as the additional funding of up to $900 million over eight years for the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme. To Mr Saktiandi and Ms Poh Li San’s questions, these additional subsidies will ensure the financial viability of the operators, and that service standards, including any planned service improvements in response to changing demand, are not compromised. In addition, the cost of public transport infrastructure development is also fully funded by Government, so any expansion or renewal plans are not affected by PTC’s decision on fares.

While the Government has stepped in to provide additional subsidies to cover the deferred fare quantum these few years to help moderate the impact of fare increase on commuters, we need to recognise that these subsidies are ultimately borne by current and future generations of taxpayers. We should therefore gradually close the gap over time where possible, which is what PTC is doing for this year’s fare review. PTC has also signalled that it intends to continue taking a gradual approach to future adjustments, to mitigate the impact on commuters.

Mr Speaker, in years when there are fare increases, the Government makes available Public Transport Vouchers (PTVs) to help cushion the impact on lower-income households. Our principle is for PTVs to help defray a part of the fare increase for lower-income households. The Government understands Singaporeans’ concerns about costs of living. That is why we revised the income eligibility criterion this year, from monthly household income per person of $1,600 to $1,800. This allows 60,000 more households to qualify for a PTV this exercise. We have also increased the PTV amount from $50 in 2023, to $60 this year. This will cover about six months of the fare increase for lower-income households.

Over the past decade, we have steadily improved the accessibility, inclusivity and quality of our public transport system. These outcomes have been achieved through a strong tripartite partnership between the Government, operators and workers, to manage cost while enhancing service and reliability, so that fares can be kept affordable and the public transport system remains financially sustainable. Sir, this will continue to be our approach going forward.

Mr Saktiandi Supaat.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for his answers to my Question Nos 1 and 3. I have one supplementary question. But first of all, I would like to thank the Minister for the occasional PTV help to vulnerable residents in Singapore. I note that he highlighted that the quantum of the CPI for household payments for public transport for vulnerable households has dropped from 3.2% to 2.4%, if I caught it correctly. I note also in the CPI basket, the public road transport CPI weightage is about 3%.

My question in terms of the supplementary question is, with regards to the PTVs, can I ask the Minister how is this quantum decided upon, in terms of the size and also the amount, $50 to $60, that he highlighted – and I applaud that. And thank you for increasing the income cut-off from $1,500 to $1,800.

My question is, how is the quantum decided? Whether in the future, can the PTV quantum be included within the overall Budget deliberation, rather than on an ad hoc basis?

I do note that the payment to alleviate the impact on households for public transport expenditure is a move that is much to be thanked for.

Mr Speaker, I would like to first clarify that the PTV was adjusted, the criterion was adjusted from a per capita household income of $1,600 to $1,800. The quantum was increased from $50 last year, to $60 this year.

Mr Saktiandi asked how we size up the quantum and how we size up the criterion. This is something that we will look at from time to time. Every time we do an exercise, we will take a look and see what is the coverage and what is the amount that we can provide to help to defray and mitigate, in this case, six months of the increase in fares for lower-income households.

We also build into the application process some flexibility, because we understand there are some households where there may be more household members; so, they may need more than one PTV. We do have this flexibility. They can appeal through the grassroots network and additional PTVs can be given to help these households with more family members.

The timing that Mr Saktiandi asked about, why not do it as part of Budget? Sir, I think this depends on the timing of the two exercises because when we do the fare review, it is a little bit later. And when we decide on the PTVs, we first have to see what PTC recommends as the fare increase. Then, we can size up the PTV accordingly.

4 Mr Sharael Taha asked the Minister for National Development (a) how will the Ministry ensure that the rich cultural heritage of the Orang Kallang and Orang Laut communities is meaningfully preserved and integrated into the development plans for areas like the Kallang Basin, Greater Southern Waterfront and Pulau Brani; and (b) whether the Ministry will establish working groups involving indigenous communities to ensure their perspectives and heritage are represented in these developments.

5 Mr Sharael Taha asked the Minister for National Development (a) what measures will the Ministry take to ensure indigenous communities, such as the Orang Laut at West Coast Park, can continue using community spaces to practice maritime crafts and traditions; and (b) whether the Ministry will explore creating similar spaces in the Kallang Basin, Greater Southern Waterfront and Pulau Brani developments.

Sir, may I take Question Nos 4 and 5 together?

Please go ahead.

Sir, as Singapore is a small city-state, we need to carefully steward our limited land resources and balance various competing needs. Wherever feasible, we will integrate elements of heritage significance into our plans and explore creative ways to recall and commemorate the heritage and identity of an area, such as through urban design, heritage storyboards, walking trails and others.

Our agencies will continue to engage local communities, as with all stakeholders, to ensure that developments are carried out sensitively and provide appropriate community spaces, where possible. For example, to support the Orang Laut community in the practice of their maritime crafts and tradition, members of the community have been granted permission to moor their boats and store fishing equipment at a site off West Coast Park, along with other licensed boatowners.

Mr Sharael Taha.

I thank the Minister for his response. The Orang Laut are the seafaring indigenous people in Singapore and the Nusantara region that has thrived in Singapore even before 1819. There are many groups of Orang Laut, such as the Orang Laut Seletar, Orang Laut Selat, comprising of the seafarers from the southern islands, and Orang Laut Kalang, of which I am a descendant of.

The Orang Laut has cultures and traditions that are closely aligned to the sea. And there are advocate groups like Orang Laut SG, with founder Firdaus Sani, who is trying to keep the culture of the Orang Laut alive through workshops such as Turning Tides and Down Down di Pulau, which means "leaves of the sea", to create awareness of the cultures such as bubu trap weaving, launching of the boats, which Minister has shared just now, the food, and searching for gong gong, siput ranga and remis.

Can the Ministry consider having heritage trails that integrate into the development plans of the Southern Waterfront region or West Coast Park, or have markers or permanent spaces where the public can appreciate the rich culture of our indigenous Orang Laut?

I would like to thank the Member for his suggestions. In fact, we will engage the Member on some of the ideas he has raised. We are in touch with Orang Laut SG, as well as the other members of the community and we will consider all these ideas that have been raised.

6 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) whether postal services providers, including SingPost, which partner public sector agencies for services, such as ICA passport collection, are subject to service availability standards in HDB heartlands, including the requirements to ensure adequate alternatives when a post office closes down; and (b) whether IMDA has examined (i) the reasons for the closure of the Clementi Mall post office and (ii) the adequacy of the proposed alternative arrangements.

Sir, Government agencies must decide how best to deliver services to the public, which may include using customer touchpoints through private-sector entities like SingPost. The arrangements made by public agencies to provide Government services at post offices are bound by contractual agreements rather than availability standards under our postal regulations.

I have previously shared with this House the reasons for the rationalisation of SingPost's post office network. Agencies that provide services through post offices are actively exploring alternative arrangements.

The closure of the Clementi Central Post Office is part of SingPost's plan to optimise its post office network. Customers will continue to have access to a POPStation parcel locker at Clementi Mall and a Self-Service Automated Machine (SAM) kiosk located 300 metres away. SingPost has also said it will be adding alternative customer service touchpoints to serve residents within the vicinity.

Most Government services are already accessible through digital means. Nonetheless, residents who need assistance with Government digital transactions can walk in to ServiceSG Centres to access about 600 frequently used Government services and schemes across more than 25 public agencies. There are now seven ServiceSG Centres located around Singapore and another two to be operationalised by the end of this year.

Dr Tan Wu Meng.

Mr Speaker, I thank the Senior Minister of State for his answer. I have got two sets of supplementary questions.

Firstly, does the Minister agree that even though SingPost is a private listed company providing some services for Government agencies on a contractual basis, nevertheless, during COVID-19, we saw how the private firm was brought in to serve a public purpose, such as distributing the Antigen Rapid Test (ART) kits during a national crisis.

Today, does the Minister also not agree that the provision of Immigration and Checkpoints Authority passport collection services is considered a quasi-public service as well through SingPost? As such, can the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) work with other agencies, to explore ways for such postal service providers, private providers with some public service provision, for such providers to continue having a strong presence in our heartlands? For example, better access to void decks or the use of community centres or, for example, if a postal provider sets up a non-profit philanthropic arm, would they be allowed to co-locate postal services in void decks and other such areas?

Secondly, can I ask the Minister could IMDA have acted earlier and worked with SingPost to find an alternative venue, given this element of public service character or quasi-public service character for SingPost's services and could SingPost have communicated it better? Some of my residents were told that the nearest available alternative SingPost offices would be in West Coast, Teban Gardens or Ghim Moh, despite Clementi Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) being a transport node and a future MRT interchange.

Sir, I thank the Member for the two supplementary questions. Let me take the Member's second question first. I am happy to share with the Member that besides the nearby post office at Clementi West, there are also alternatives within the vicinity for his residents. I mentioned earlier the POPStation located at Clementi Mall, which is the same location as the original Clementi Central Post Office, and at the SAM kiosk located 300 metres away at Block 451 Clementi Avenue 3. SingPost is also looking at third party postal agents, for example, supermarkets and so on, in which these can provide services to the residents in the vicinity. And SingPost continues to look at alternative locations to provide convenient access for its customers and it is something that SingPost has committed to exploring.

On the Member's first question that during a crisis period where we tap on private sector organisations or companies to provide essential services, he mentioned about ART kits and COVID-19 test kits, he might remember that during that period of time, actually the Government agencies that were providing that essential service were leveraging multiple touchpoints. We will remember residents going to community centres (CCs) to collect the ART kits or masks and so on?

It is not just working through one single channel. So, Government agencies, as part of their operations, do plan for business continuity services during crisis periods. And this is something all Government agencies do, including some services the Member mentioned.

And if the Member has specific questions about passport collection, I would invite the Member to file a Parliamentary Question (PQ) to the relevant Ministry.

Dr Tan Wu Meng.

I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. Can I further ask the Ministry, in the assessment of SAM and POPStations, will the Ministry continue giving attention to the challenges faced by seniors who may be less digitally savvy and less able to use such touchpoints? Secondly, as the Senior Minister of State has mentioned the emergence of ServiceSG Centres, would he be able to advise us where is the nearest ServiceSG Centre to Clementi? And can we have one in Clementi soon, in a substantive way, if not already on the cards?

Sir, we are always sympathetic to the needs of residents, especially those who are more mobility-challenged and those who may need more help. That is why we have CCs and public agency touchpoints in the community. And this is something we will continue to look at as a whole-of-Government movement.

Specifically on the Member's question around the ServiceSG Centres, unfortunately, I do not have the answer with me. It is not under my Ministry's remit. So, I would invite the Member to file a PQ to the relevant Ministry.

7 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health whether any schemes are available to encourage administrative and support healthcare workers to stay and build their careers in the public healthcare sector.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Health (MOH) actively works with the public healthcare clusters and community care organisations to ensure that they are able to recruit and retain sufficient staff to meet their needs. This includes ensuring competitive salaries, career development opportunities and safe working environments.

For administrative and support healthcare workers, we pay special attention to redesign their roles and career pathways so that they have more development and career progression opportunities. MOH has worked with the clusters to develop the Care Support Associate (CSA) and Patient Service Associate (PSA) roles, which incorporate an expanded mix of patient caregiving, administrative and operational tasks. This is currently being rolled out, with training support available, to enable existing staff to take up the expanded roles.

Mr Louis Ng.

I thank Minister of State for the reply. We have the Award for Nurses’ Grace, Excellence and Loyalty (ANGEL) scheme for nurses, which is a financial retention scheme, very similar to the CONNECT Plan that we use to retain teachers. That has shown to work.

So, could I ask whether we can have a similar programme or just extend the ANGEL programme to the administrative and support staff, who work alongside our nurses and should be equally valued as well?

I thank the Member for the question and for constantly championing the needs of the healthcare workers. I know that he has also raised this question separately. We have not extended the ANGEL scheme, which was specifically meant for nurses, because we take different approaches. There are different considerations for different healthcare workers. We do not have the same scheme for nurses and doctors, for example.

We do take into account factors, such as the strength of the recruitment pipeline, the global competition, the nature of the jobs and their career structure and looking at what is needed for that particular role and that particular healthcare group. Nurses make up a large number. There is a large number of healthcare workers. They make up a large proportion of the workforce in the public healthcare institution. Hence, it becomes necessary to have a scheme like ANGEL to retain them, very much like why teachers, when they have a whole group of workers who are in the public sector that needs to be retained. So, that scheme was specifically meant for them.

We do consider the needs of all our healthcare workers and, indeed, the administrative and support healthcare workers are as important to us, but we do it in a different way. We regularly review the salaries of all the healthcare workers in the public healthcare institutions to ensure that their salaries are fair and competitive.

And we will continue to look at various ways to attract and retain them, various measures to ensure that they are future-ready, that we are supporting mid-entry entrants, for example, into the sector, providing them with opportunities to have job redesign, career development and also ensuring that they have a conducive and age-appropriate work environment.

8 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Manpower in respect of the erratic weather conditions in Singapore (a) what are the workplace safety measures that the Ministry has put in place, beyond providing advisory to employers, to ensure the safety of workers in industries with high risk of exposure to erratic weather conditions and those performing outdoor work; and (b) how does the Ministry ensure compliance with these measures.

9 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Manpower in view of the advisory on preparing for adverse weather events issued by the Ministry of Manpower and Workplace Safety and Health Council (a) whether the Ministry will consider further specifying the weather conditions, such as wind intensity and outdoor temperature, under which workers should not be deployed for work; and (b) how will the Ministry collect feedback on working under adverse weather conditions, particularly from foreign workers who may face communication problems due to language barriers.

Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 8 and 9 together, please?

Please go ahead.

Sir, given the wide range of possible weather conditions and the ways in which such weather conditions can affect the diverse range of worksite situations, it is not practical for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to specify thresholds for companies to stop work. Instead, as guided by MOM's advisory on preparing for adverse weather events, companies must implement relevant measures that are specific to their business and safety needs.

For example, companies are advised to prepare for potential strong wind situations by tying down essential structures or placing critical electrical equipment away from low-lying areas. Companies are also advised to subscribe to weather alerts so that they can promptly activate their contingency plans and temporarily stop outdoor work during strong wind conditions or when there is thunder or lightning. After adverse weather, companies should inspect the worksite for damage, unstable structures or safety hazards before resuming work. In addition, employers and workers may refer to the revised heat stress measures for outdoor work that MOM issued in September to protect outdoor workers against heat stress.

During MOM's regular safety inspections, companies must demonstrate that they have taken the necessary measures to mitigate workplace safety and health risks, including those arising from weather conditions. Those who have failed to do so will be subject to appropriate enforcement actions.

Workers are advised or encouraged to share their feedback and report unsafe workplace practices to MOM via SnapSAFE, which is a camera-based form. They can just take a photo and send it up. Migrant workers can also submit their feedback and concerns through MOM's FWMOMCare mobile application, which is available in their native languages and use it to reach MOM's Forward Assurance and Support Teams (FAST) and request for a call back. Additionally, they can also approach MOM's Friends of Assurance, Care and Engagement (FACE) migrant worker volunteers who serve as a bridge between their peers and MOM.

Mr Melvin Yong.

Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for his response. In the past few months, we have seen a wide variation of erratic weather conditions in Singapore, from extreme heat to extreme rain. These erratic weather patterns are set to become a norm due to climate change.

First, how will MOM manage unwanted consequences due to delays from all these adverse weather conditions and to ensure that employers do not compromise on safety due to the need to then catch up and meet deadlines?

Second, does MOM have any plans for long-term measures to better protect workers against these erratic and adverse weather conditions, such as updating building codes and also other workplace protocols?

Thirdly, I would like to ask if the MOM would study the health impact of long-term exposure to such erratic weather patterns, especially for workers who are performing outdoor work?

I thank the Member for his supplementary question. In fact, MOM and the other agencies monitor this quite closely, especially with the evolving weather patterns that are ongoing. But the challenge is that it is very difficult to impose a guide on when you put in stop work orders, because the variations may be quite different for different worksites.

Some may be construction sites, for example, or both may have different types of ways in which they conduct their work. One could be more prefab, so, therefore, it is more mechanical. Others may be more physical. Therefore, it is incumbent on the employer and the site occupier to be able to make the risk assessments. This is where we put the burden on the employers and the worksite occupiers to ensure that the workplace safety guidelines are all adhered to.

This is an evolving situation, but for example, we had recently put out an advisory for preparing for adverse weather conditions. And therefore, some of the recent guides that have been given to companies – as recent as September 2024 – were to, for example, monitor weather conditions via systems and alerts. This guides them to take a risk assessment, looking at what the weather is like and looking at all worksites and see how that impacts their risk assessments and how they need to implement suitable risk controls.

At the same time, to communicate hazards to workers and train them to report to their supervisors if there are adverse conditions that affect their work or safety. Ultimately, they also need to prepare a recovery plan because post adverse weather conditions, you will have to, for example, check on the structures and integrity of affected structures and critical outdoor machinery, after any weather event.

These are quite dynamic situations across different worksites and therefore, at the moment, I think it is important that employers come train, look into the advisories and see how best these weather conditions affect their worksites and how these affect their risk assessments.

As we move on, as we have done with the heat stress advisory, the agencies and MOM will study this and see what the long-term implications are. Because many of these are constantly evolving and we have been fortunate not to have extreme weather conditions such as extreme heat waves, for example. We will continue to monitor and look at scientific evidence to determine what the course of actions would be, if there would be any.

Ms Joan Pereira.

Thank you, Speaker. I have a supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State. Can the Ministry consider introducing industry-specific best practices and training to be rolled out, in collaboration with industry associations and unions, in preparing companies to implement workplace safety measures for adverse weather conditions?

I thank the Member for her question. Certainly, MOM works closely together with the Workplace Safety and Health Council, as well as our tripartite partners and the trade associations to ensure that we engage both employers and workers to make the assessments on what are the best practices. From time to time, even before incidents occur, we try to provide templates for risk assessments and how they can manage these advisories.

The information is disseminated to employers and workers to various channels, such as our websites, FWMOMCare app, unions, trade associations and social media platforms, as well as fora conducted by Workplace Safety and Health Council and seminars.

I think it is important that we continue to issue reminders to the industry on weather-related hazards through various communication channels. Some of these materials that were recently introduced would be materials, such as the heat stress management compliance checklist, the advisory for preparing for adverse weather events, guidelines on wet-bulb globe temperature, or WBGT, monitoring for outdoor work. And these are already specific guides to help them implement good practices and to protect their workers from weather related hazards.

Ultimately, I think even within Singapore, from time to time, in different locations, you will have variations in weather conditions as well, and therefore, it is hard to say a one-size-fits-all rule for everyone. All employers, as I mentioned earlier, do need to make that risk assessment based on your worksite conditions, based on the equipment that you are using, based on the structures that you have, to ensure that your workers are best protected against weather hazards. And that also includes post-weather hazard events as well, to ensure that, post-work hazards, these do not affect structures and equipment that could affect them as they operate after the weather event.

So, in short, yes, we will do that. Do look out for these advisories as they come along, as this is a situation that is still evolving and one that we are monitoring.

10 Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Health in light of the Ministry's statement on 19 September 2024 that findings from the National Youth Mental Health Study affirmed the approach under the National Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy to tackling youth mental health issues and that many of the measures under the Strategy are already in place while others will be progressively rolled out across the next few years (a) what are the measures that are yet to be rolled out; and (b) what is timetable for their introduction.

Who from the Ministry of Health is taking this question?

Mr Speaker, we will be designating first-stop touchpoints to enable individuals to receive support early and to facilitate access to higher-tier services when needed. For instance, a new National Mental Health Helpline and Textline service will be introduced in mid-2025 to offer psychological first aid for those facing mental distress. Those who require additional support, including crisis management, will be referred to the relevant services.

Our other upcoming measures include the Positive Use Guide on Technology and Social Media, which will be ready in the first half of 2025. It will guide healthy and positive uses of technology and social media, and provide recommendations to mitigate their potential negative impact.

In addition, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) are studying whether further requirements, such as age assurance, are needed to prevent children and youths from accessing age-inappropriate content on relevant online communication services.

Assoc Prof Razwana.

I thank the Ministry for its effort in advancing mental health support and I appreciate the response, especially on the age verification tools. I was just wondering whether there is any initiative to move forward, in terms of partnering with social media and tech companies, especially in terms of teletherapy platforms? Because there seems to be a lot of such platforms coming up as well, where you have layperson giving advice that may not be appropriate, especially for young children and young people.

Sir, I thank Assoc Prof Razwana for the questions. Actually, her query has two different parts. Are we partnering with social media companies and tech companies? The answer is yes. As we develop our various codes of practice, as well as regulatory frameworks around various aspects of social media, we do indeed partner very closely with the social media and tech companies. This is the work on the MDDI side of the House. It is independent from the mental health strategy.

The separate issue is then the use of telemedicine and teletherapy services. Under the MOH, we are indeed studying this and looking to see how we can use these types of technologies to better reach out to persons in need and this is not just about mental health, but there are a whole variety of indications for telemedicine services and we have a framework for assessing the governance, the safety, the approach towards telemedicine.

And so, the social media companies or the tech companies may well be a platform through which telemedicine services are delivered, but actually, it is the service provider then that we need to work with for the assessment of those services.

11 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the designs of new HDB precincts have taken into account the variability and range of inclement weather, including heavy rain and strong winds; (b) whether the assessments have considered the prospects and implications of wind-swept rain entering lift shafts and affecting lift equipment; and (c) what rectification measures have been considered by HDB for new precincts where wind-swept rain has raised concerns about lift durability.

Mr Speaker, in Singapore's tropical climate, strong winds may cause rainwater during a heavy downpour to enter common property that is not completely enclosed. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has employed various design strategies over the years to try to mitigate the extent of rainwater splashing into homes and common areas.

These considerations are incorporated into HDB's design requirements, to ensure that our precincts are reasonably well protected from the tropical weather even as we design for natural ventilation and ample lighting. In view of increasingly volatile weather patterns brought about by climate change, HDB has conducted wind-driven rain, or WDR, simulations for all new public housing developments since 2021.

Through the WDR simulations, the effects of rain and wind, even in more extreme conditions, are modelled to identify areas prone to rainwater splashing. This allows designers to implement mitigating measures early during the design stage.

HDB adopts design features recommended under Building and construction Authority's (BCA's) SS 550-2020 standards for lifts, such as sloped thresholds at lift doors to reduce the risk of water ingress into the lifts. HDB also installs rain screens and canopies at the lift lobby, if these are found to be necessary. These measures are generally adequate to keep rainwater out of the lift area.

Dr Tan Wu Meng.

Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister for her answer. I have been approached by residents in Clementi Peaks, a very new precinct in Clementi. My residents share that about one year after they moved in, HDB started installing rain shields at lift lobbies which blocked their view of the beautiful Clementi scenery.

We are told that the reason was to prevent rain entering the lift shafts, which would affect lift reliability and corrode the lifts. My supplementary questions are, firstly, does the Minister not agree that heavy rain and strong winds are not unknown in the West of Singapore, including in Clementi?

Secondly, can I also ask the Minister – hindsight is of course 20/20 – but in hindsight, could HDB have done an even deeper study into the climate situation in the west of Singapore before the development was being built? And if there was a discovery of rain entering lift shafts during the construction phase, whether these rain shields could have been installed earlier and incorporated into the design earlier?

Lastly, Mr Speaker, we know safety is important, especially lift safety, and if there is no other option, safety must come first. But can the Minister assure us that HDB will learn from each new development, including Clementi Peaks, so that future developments will be even better and consider climate change even more closely.

Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. I think he had three. The first one, he asked whether it would be possible to anticipate that there are heavy rains and strong winds, including in the Clementi area.

The answer is yes, and that is the reason why HDB has included the modelling of WDR simulations for new public housing. But in the particular case that he raised, which is I believe the case of Clementi Peaks, maybe I should explain what happened here. Before I do, let me just talk a little bit about the WDR simulations.

They are computational fluid dynamics, or CFD, for WDR simulations and they are conducted to meet the following HDB requirements: to identify and prevent rainwater from splashing to residential unit entrance gate and lift doors; to identify and minimise rainwater splashing to sheltered accessible routes, including drop-off porches, link bridges and linkways or void decks; and to demonstrate the effectiveness of mitigation measures proposed, such as modifying the corridor layout and/or design mitigation measures up front that will match the façade and meet the fire safety requirement.

In the case of Clementi Peaks, however, Clementi Peaks was completed in October 2022 and this means that the design was finalised before HDB began incorporating the CFD simulations for WDR, which was in 2021. And shortly after handover, the residents reported that there were issues of rainwater splashing into the common corridors and lift lobbies on the higher floors, and this posed a risk of seepage into the lift shafts. HDB then decided to install additional rain screens at the lift lobbies to protect the lift, as a key infrastructure in common property, from rain splashing and this was for safety reasons and to avoid disruption of lift operations, which would, of course, affect all residents.

And therefore, after consultations with HDB and the consultant, the contractor then served notice to residents of the installation of the rain screens at the affected lift lobbies in mid-August of 2024.

The first point I want to make is that for Clementi Peaks specifically, that was before the WDR simulations were put into effect. The second point I want to make is that the works that were done were primarily for safety reason. The third point I want to make, and this acknowledges what the Member brought up, which is that I think the learning lesson from this is that it is helpful to engage the residents earlier, to let them know the reason why the installation is being done, and also possibly to take feedback, because in this case, as I understand it, residents were concerned about the view being blocked.

In short, I think we would improve the engagement process where issues like these arise in future.

12 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Transport in light of BYD's recall of nearly 97,000 electric vehicles (EVs) for a manufacturing fault that can lead to fire risks (a) whether LTA has been notified by BYD on the recall of EVs which are related to the affected EVs; and (b) whether LTA is conducting its own testing and inspection of the affected vehicle models.

Mr Speaker, the Road Traffic Act stipulates that vehicle manufacturers or dealers must, upon becoming aware, notify the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and affected vehicle owners of any safety-related defects in vehicles manufactured or sold by them.

BYD Singapore Private Limited has informed LTA that BYD vehicles sold in Singapore, are not affected by the recent recall affecting about 97,000 BYD vehicles manufactured in China. LTA will continue to monitor the situation and will take appropriate action if any safety concerns are identified.

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis.

Thank you, Speaker. Just one supplementary question for the Minister of State. In relation to the last part of my Parliamentary Question (PQ), I understand from the Minister of State's response that the dealer will have to do its own monitoring. But on the part of LTA or the Ministry of Transport, does it also conduct its own independent checks, given that these particular models are quite popular in Singapore? And more generally, there has been various cases of such electric vehicle (EV) recalls for different brands for different models. Similarly, are there independent, random checks that are being put in place to ensure that there is a certain reliability assurance?

Sir, in response to the hon Member Mr Chua's questions, as far as reference to the last part of his PQ is concerned, he was asking the question as to whether LTA is conducting its own testing and inspection of the affected vehicle model. So, in context, that does not arise because the vehicles in Singapore are not subject of the recall.

But to his more general question as to whether LTA conducts independent testing and inspection, I would respond as follows. All vehicles, including EVs, are required to meet internationally recognised vehicle safety standards, such as the United Nations regulations, before they can be used on our roads. All vehicles are also required to undergo periodic inspections, to ensure that they meet roadworthiness requirements.

LTA does not conduct additional testing and inspection for vehicles affected in recalls, but requires motor dealers to promptly report any safety-related recalls initiated by vehicle manufacturers to LTA. Once reported, dealers are provided with the contact details of the affected vehicle owners. Motor dealers must then notify these owners and make arrangements to rectify the defects as soon as possible.

13 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) whether any research has been done on whether there is a gender gap in the adoption rates of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in Singapore, particularly in generative AI; (b) whether any groups have been identified as being more reluctant in adopting such AI technologies; and (c) whether there will be targeted initiatives to encourage these groups to better adopt AI technologies in educational and workplace settings.

Mr Speaker, international studies have highlighted a gender disparity in the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI (GenAI) globally. This reflects the broader trend of under-representation of women across the technology sector.

Women in Singapore are doing well compared to the global average. A study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in May 2024 found that women make up 40% of Singapore's technological workforce, surpassing the global average of 37%. Based on web traffic data from SimilarWeb, 47% of Singapore users of GenAI tools are female, slightly higher than the global average of 43%. This demonstrates their openness to participating in the technology industry and embracing new technologies, like AI.

Initiatives, such as the Singapore Women in Tech Movement, have championed efforts to attract, retain and develop women in technology. We aim to encourage AI adoption across all groups, while providing tailored initiatives to meet the needs and varying competencies of specific groups.

For workers, we have numerous SkillsFuture AI training courses. These allow individuals to acquire new AI skills, enhance their productivity and improve their employability in a rapidly evolving job market. For students, new AI for Fun modules will be introduced under the Code for Fun programme to expose primary and secondary schools to AI. These modules allow students to explore and tinker with technology, including through the design of prototypes incorporating AI. For the general public, the National Library Board's (NLB's) public outreach programmes, such as the Be SURE Together roadshows, incorporate GenAI content to educate them on the potentials and pitfalls of GenAI.

NLB also provides free access to learning resources, like LinkedIn Learning, which contain short courses on AI and GenAI for all NLB members. By ensuring broad access to AI tools and offering tailored support for different skill levels, we aim to make AI adoption inclusive and accessible to all.

Ms He Ting Ru.

I thank the Minister of State Rahayu for the reply. I just wanted to ask some supplementary questions on this.

First is, whether or not, in the Code for Fun, have there been any attention paid to certain groups which might be found to be generally more reluctant or a little bit more afraid to engage with the topics?

And also, some of the schemes that she mentioned earlier, such as the NLB schemes, whether or not these schemes have user data or participant data tracked, not just in terms of gender, but age group and also socioeconomic background?

The thinking behind this is just to find out whether or not we need to target these groups that are generally under-represented in technology and AI.

I appreciate the Member's question and concern in identifying certain groups which may not be as receptive or a bit more exposed to AI. She made specific references to two of the programmes that we are working on.

The Code for Fun programme is something that we do in schools. That is something that the teachers roll out and we do, indeed, aim to encourage more students to participate in it. We definitely can always look at enhancing this and ensuring that students from all backgrounds get to benefit from this. Being in school allows for that accessibility to students from different backgrounds to have access and for teachers to identify those who, perhaps, need more support and more nudging.

The NLB programme, indeed, is also with the same thinking. It is done in a platform that is accessible for all. I believe there should be tracking of some of this participation. This is something that I will need to look into. But it is something that we are cognisant of, that there are certain groups that may not be as receptive or maybe even groups we want to reach out to share these resources and we will continue with our efforts to do so.

We continue to work also with partners through our Digital for Life programmes. Through these partners, who are working in the ground communities, they help us access different groups with different modalities. With the suite of all these efforts, we should be able to reach out to different groups. But if there are any groups that the Member has identified that needs further support, please let us know and we would be happy to reach out and extend some of these resources to them.

14 Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Education what mechanisms are in place to ensure that foster parents are able to access all appropriate and relevant education about the children and young people under their care, including information stored on the Parents Gateway app.

Mr Speaker, the circumstances related to each child or young person under foster care are complex and unique. Schools work with relevant agencies and foster parents in accordance with the Children and Young Persons Act to share all relevant education information about the child or young person under the care of foster parents. This includes information available on Parents Gateway.

Where possible, foster parents are given access to all such information through the Parents' Gateway app. However, in selected cases, such information will be conveyed through other means, including meetings, emails or hardcopy letters. The Member may wish to surface any specific case she is aware of to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) or the Ministry of Education for assistance.

Assoc Prof Razawa Begum.

I thank the Ministry for its support of foster parents. Foster parents do face challenges, especially with limited access to the Parents' Gateway app. This is the information that I have received from foster parents themselves and this can delay crucial support for children in their care. I believe that this impacts the child's well-being and development.

I understand there are other measures as well in place, but I was wondering would the Ministry consider establishing a support programme within the school setting for foster parents, such as Foster Family Resource Hub, where foster parents can access guidance, counselling and resources?

I was also wondering whether it is possible to integrate the real-time communication tools within the app itself with school staff and, if not possible because of our data protection and all that and natural parents' power and control over their child, would it be possible to develop something else that is separate? A lot of the foster parents are not able to access the information because the natural parents are the ones who are registered under the portal.

Mr Speaker, I would like to clarify that when foster parents are given access to the Parents Gateway, the child's birth parents will have access to the identities of the foster parents. And because there are different types of child arrangements for foster parenting, it is important that we are sensitive to the needs and circumstances of each case.

Our schools typically will work closely with MSF and assigned social worker on the appropriate way for communication as well as support for the foster parent as well as the child.

On the suggestion to have a support network, certainly. We will look to MSF for such platforms where foster parents, as a community, can get better support and information.

On communication between the school and the foster parents, certainly, if it is in the best interest of the child and, with the support as well as endorsement from the social worker supporting the case, our schools will be most willing to work with the foster parents on that.

15 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for National Development whether the Government will consider mandating shopping malls and other public buildings to plan for and set aside lift cars that are purpose-built to accommodate more users of baby prams, wheelchairs and personal mobility aids to make these places more friendly for families.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Building and Construction Authority's (BCA's) Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment specifies that, where lifts are provided in a building, at least one lift must be made accessible for wheelchair users. These lifts are required to have sufficient manoeuvring space for wheelchairs and accessible features, such as conveniently placed lift buttons, mirrors and grab bars that would benefit other lift users including those using personal mobility aids and prams.

BCA encourages building owners and developers to tailor their accessible facilities to the profile of their users and go beyond baseline code standards, where needed, especially for places with high public footfall. This could involve providing more accessible lifts or implementing priority access arrangements that improve the lift user experience.

Creating an inclusive society extends beyond the provision of accessible facilities and features. BCA partners with the Singapore Kindness Movement to promote gracious use of accessible facilities including initiatives to encourage the public to prioritise lift access for those with greater needs.

Mr Saktiandi Supaat.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for her answer. I just have one supplementary question. In regard to the Code of standards for the lifts that have been indicated in the BCA standards, does it include safety standards for personal mobility aid (PMA) and personal mobility devices (PMDs)? And also, have the size changes that possibly evolved over time?

Sir, I thank the Member for his supplementary question. The current Code which is in effect would be the latest 2019 version.

It provides that where lifts are provided in a building, at least one accessible lift must be provided and it must serve all levels intended for access by persons with disabilities, has a minimum size of lift of 1,200 millimetres by 1,400 millimetres in depth, minimum lift opening of 900 millimetres and a control panel at a suitable height. The lift car of a wheelchair-accessible passenger lift must also have a side control panel to facilitate ease of access and use by wheelchair users. So, as I mentioned earlier, the current Code requirements would be large enough to benefit those using personal mobility aids (PMAs) and prams.

That said, I have one qualification. There are PMAs and there are PMAs, and we have seen some very large PMAs that are actually more like small cars rather than what you would expect of a personal mobility device. So, it may not be possible to accommodate very large PMAs in lifts, depending on the building size and configuration.

As the Code is currently under review, what we will do is to take this feedback on board and, if others have suggestions or thoughts on lifts, lift access, convenience of use of lifts, please do provide this feedback to BCA. As I said, the review of the Code is underway and a draft of the revised Code is targeted to be released for public consultation by the end of this year. So, best to get the suggestions in early.

16 Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Transport whether there is any requirement for all EV charging stations to be insured against fire and damage to the building housing them and surrounding cars.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the hon Member Mr Lim Biow Chuan may be happy to note that the electric vehicle charging operators (EVCOs) are required to maintain a public liability insurance policy which covers personal injury, death or damage to property of third persons arising from EV charging operations, including from fire incidents, with a minimum coverage of $2 million per occurrence.

Mr Lim Biow Chuan.

Sir, I understand that there was some concern by drivers about the safety of EVs after the fire involving EVs in Seoul in August. Sir, may I ask the Minister of State, in addition to insurance, would there be other safety requirements like the installation of sprinklers or the provision of fire extinguishers near EV charging points, so as to give assurance to other car drivers that their vehicles parked next to an EV charging station would be safe?

The other question, if I may ask the Minister of State, is whether the insurance just covers the owners of the car park, primarily the Housing and Development Board (HDB), or would it also cover managers of the car park, like Town Councils?

Mr Speaker, Sir, I appreciate the hon Member Mr Lim's concern about safety arising from the Seoul incident that he mentioned. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is looking at this quite closely. From the perspective of fire incidents in Singapore, thankfully, it has remained quite low. In 2023, for a vehicle population of 16,262 EVs, there was only one fire incident. So, we will continue to look at it and then, based on the experience, we will take whatever further steps that are necessary.

In relation to the coverage of the insurance policy, as I mentioned in my answer to the hon Member Mr Lim just now, it is a third-party public liability insurance policy. So, it covers not only damage to property – and the Member mentioned HDB – it also covers personal injury and damage to other third parties as well. So, that is the ambit of the policy.

17 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Health in view of studies linking uncorrected hearing loss with dementia, whether the Ministry will consider allowing seniors to use MediSave for the purchase of their hearing aids.

Mr Speaker, seniors who require hearing aids can tap on the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF), which provides eligible Singaporeans with means-tested subsidies of up to 90%. Those with severe hearing loss requiring hearing implants, such as bone conduction hearing or cochlear implants, can tap on subsidies, MediSave and MediShield Life. The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) can also provide additional support.

While it is understandable that many Singaporeans wish to use more of their MediSave, we also need to ensure that Singaporeans have adequate MediSave balances to support their medical expenses for major health episodes, which tend to happen when they are in an advanced age.

Mr Dennis Tan.

Mr Speaker, I have one supplementary question. The SMF has got a limit consideration of $2,000 monthly income per person and that suitably limits a lot of seniors from applying for assistance. So, a lot of seniors who do not qualify under the SMF, they will have to fork out their own cash and the cost of the hearing aid is quite significant for seniors who are currently not working and they have to pay in cash.

So, I would like to ask the Ministry to reconsider whether seniors can be allowed to use part of their MediSave for the purpose of hearing aid. And this is all the more important, especially given the recent studies that have shown the connection between hearing loss and dementia.

I note the concern that the Member raised on the limitations of the SMF. I would say though that there are over 16,000 seniors since 2019, I believe, who have already applied for this fund and most of them will actually get subsidies; 99% of them are eligible and actually would get the subsidies. So, for those of them who cannot meet the eligibility requirement, they can go to AIC for any additional support. [Please refer to "Clarification by Minister of State for Health", Official Report, 16 October 2024, Vol 95, Issue 144, Correction By Written Statement section.]

I note the Member's concerns, but I think it is a balancing exercise that we have to take note of. This is something that we will constantly review and assess because there is a need to also ensure that there are sufficient balances in MediSave. We take into account how we reserve this for the more severe situations and more costly items. And this is a principle that we adhere to. It is something that we will continue to assess.

As I said, if there are situations where the seniors feel that they actually cannot afford it and do not meet the SMF eligibility requirements, they can approach AIC and we can see what are some of the other ways that we can support the seniors.

The following question stood in the name of Mr Leong Mun Wai –

18 To ask the Minister for National Development (a) how many cat breeders have been licensed since implementation of the cat-breeding guidelines in 2023; (b) how many licensed cat breeders are currently renting units at The Animal Lodge; (c) how many unlicensed cat breeders has NParks identified since 2023; (d) whether measures are taken to assist unlicensed cat breeders in regularising their operations before actions are taken against them; and (e) how many cats have been seized from these unlicensed cat breeders since 2023.

Question No 18.

Sir, under the Animals and Birds (Licensing of Premises for Pet Shop and other Purposes) Rules, a valid licence is required to breed animals for commercial purposes. Since the licensing conditions for commercial breeding of pet cats were published in July 2023, the National Parks Board (NParks) has licensed three commercial cat breeders. These cat breeders are currently renting units at The Animal Lodge. NParks will continue to monitor the demand for commercial cat breeding and allocate newly available units for cat breeding, where appropriate.

NParks investigates reports of the illegal commercial breeding of cats and takes enforcement action against offenders. Between January 2023 and August 2024, NParks investigated 58 cases of illegal cat breeding and seized 91 cats from these illegal breeders. These cats remain under the care of NParks and are regularly assessed by veterinarians.

Members of the public who wish to purchase cats should only do so from licensed sources, which are subject to licensing conditions to safeguard animal health and welfare and are regularly inspected by NParks.

19 Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what mechanisms are in place to ensure that foster carers are able to access all appropriate and relevant health information about the children and young people in their care; and (b) what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the birth parents do not impede access to the health information, including information stored on the Health Buddy app.

Sir, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will request the birth parents of children taken into care to provide health-related information, including the child’s current health status and medical history, through a medical declaration form. When necessary, MSF will share this information with foster parents. If parents refuse to provide the information, MSF’s Child Protective Service can exercise powers under the Children and Young Persons Act to obtain and share medical information of the child, if needed.

Since fostering is a temporary arrangement, foster parents do not have direct access to the foster child’s health records via HealthHub or Health Buddy applications, as access remains tied to the birth parents’ Singpass. However, foster parents are issued a letter from MSF that identifies them as caregivers under the Ministry’s fostering scheme. This letter facilitates communication with healthcare professionals and ensures the child’s medical needs are properly addressed.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum.

Sir, I appreciate the efforts by the Ministry and the social workers for their continued support of foster parents. However, foster parents do face delays, especially in healthcare treatment, mainly because of the procedural challenges. Sometimes, it is temporary, but sometimes, foster children are in the care of the foster parents for a longer period of time. Under those circumstances, there have been situations where a child's appointment has been cancelled by the natural parents because they have access to the Health Buddy and, because of this delay, sometimes, the child needs to be prepped before he or she goes to the hospital. These are some of the challenges that are happening on the ground.

My question is: can there be more support given via MSF and the Ministry of Health (MOH) in terms of addressing these delays and maybe temporarily preventing the natural parents from having access or cancelling the appointment of their children on Health Hub or Health Buddy? So, that is one suggestion or question.

The other thing is whether it is possible to have a dedicated health liaison person that social workers can work with MOH, because some of these children do need a lot of help and foster parents can be running around. So, greater help and greater assistance will be wonderful between the two Ministries.

Sir, I thank Assoc Prof Razwana for her supplementary questions. I will take the two questions together.

Every foster child is issued a medical fee exemption card (MFEC) and this covers standard medical or dental treatment charges as well as compulsory immunisations and medications. So, in terms of getting access to these standard treatments and medication, I do not think the natural parents will be an obstacle to the process.

What happens in every foster placement is that there will be a foster care worker that is assigned to support both the foster parents as well as the foster child, and they will have at least one face-to-face contact every two months. Every foster parent can raise any concerns or difficulties that they face during these sessions. What we can do is that we can continually engage foster parents. Every once in a while, I will also get feedback from foster parents as to how we can improve the process to help facilitate their work in taking care of the foster child. We will continue this engagement and make sure that, wherever support is required, we will render them as soon as possible.

20 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance in respect of the increase in the number of bankruptcies in the first half of 2024, what proportion of bankruptcies is due to credit card debts.

Sir, my response to this question will also address the other written Parliamentary Question filed by Mr Derrick Goh for today's Sitting.

Not all bankruptcy applications result in bankruptcy orders as applications may be withdrawn for various reasons, such as if the debtor settles the debt or enters into a debt repayment plan with the creditors. The number of bankruptcy orders in the first half of 2024 has been stable compared to the same period in the last few years and remains below pre-COVID-19 levels. The household debt situation in Singapore also remains stable. Non-performing loans (NPLs) are less than 1% of all loans to individuals extended by financial institutions as of the second quarter of 2024. Credit card delinquency rates have also remained stable in the same period. Corporate NPLs have remained low at about 2% as of the second quarter of 2024.

Slightly over two-fifths of bankruptcy orders were due to business failures in the first half of 2024. These debtors borrowed from a range of sources, including banks, credit card issuers, licensed moneylenders and private individuals.

Borrowers who face debt repayment challenges can approach social service agencies, such as Credit Counselling Singapore, for help with debt management and restructuring or to work out appropriate debt repayment plans. Those with unsecured debt with financial institutions may sign up for a Debt Consolidation Plan to restructure their debt. When a bankruptcy application is filed as a last resort, the Ministry of Law’s (MinLaw's) Official Assignee administers a Debt Repayment Scheme to help eligible debtors manage their debt and avoid bankruptcy.

It is also important to ensure that Singaporeans borrow prudently. To mitigate the risk of over-indebtedness, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) requires financial institutions to implement a range of safeguards. For example, requirements on total debt servicing and loan-to-value ratios limit the size of property loans that a borrower can take on. For credit cards, borrowers are subject to minimum income requirements, credit and income checks, and an industry-wide borrowing limit also applies.

Our national financial education programme, MoneySENSE, educates the public on money management skills as well. These include advising consumers to spend within their means, borrow prudently and manage credit card bills to avoid high interest charges.

Mr Yong.

Sir, I thank the Minister of State for his reply. According to statistics from the MAS, bad credit card debts and credit card rollover balances are increasing. While I note from Minister of State's reply that the correlation between such unsecured debt and bankruptcy remain stable and is manageable for now, I would like to highlight that it is important for us to look at the entire suite of credit card and credit card-like facilities. I would like to ask if the MAS could include debts from Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services into its monitoring of bad credit card debts as these services provide a line of credit to some who would otherwise not qualify for credit card. Essentially, what we deem as vulnerable consumers. We should track BNPL schemes just as closely as credit card debt, given that they provide similar credit facilities.

Sir, I thank Mr Melvin Yong for his supplementary question. In fact, in Singapore, the BNPL sector is still relatively small and transactions now total about 1% of total credit and debit card payments in the first half of 2023.

But I would like to assure the Member that MAS continues to monitor this sector and has guided firms to establish an industry-led code of conduct to mitigate the risks of consumer over-indebtedness. This code includes safeguards, like credit assessments and limits on outstanding payments, assuring responsible lending practice. But I still also want to assure Mr Melvin Yong that MAS will consider stronger regulations if necessary, although the industry now currently relies on self-regulation, given BNPL transactions remain very small compared to other means of payment. But we are looking at this carefully. I thank the Member for his suggestion.

Mr Derrick Goh.

Mr Speaker, Sir, my question to the Minister of State is on his point relating to the considerations of stronger regulations by MAS. Would those considerations include requiring BNPL players to report to the Credit Bureau for data so that all players, including banks and financial institutions, could use those data?

The second question would be, given the downtrend of the United States Federal Reserve rates and forecasted interest rates coming down, does the Minister of State see improvements in the bankruptcy orders, which he states as being stable? Over time, would he see those improvements? And for segments that he says are stable, are there any sub-segments that are of concern that he notes in his analysis, whether it relates to businesses or individuals?

Sir, I thank Mr Derrick Goh for his supplementary questions. I will take the second question. The first one, I think I had explained to Mr Melvin Yong that currently, while regulation over BNPL is largely industry-led and driven by the code of conduct, MAS will look into this carefully. And I thank both Mr Melvin Yong and Mr Derrick Goh for their suggestions.

With regard to Mr Derrick Goh's second question, let me share just two things. One, to reiterate the point that while bankruptcy applications have picked up in the first half of 2024, not all of these bankruptcy applications result in bankruptcy orders.

If you look at the data, actually, bankruptcy orders have not increased in tandem with the higher number of applications. One of the reasons might be due to the debt repayment scheme administered by the Official Assignee from MinLaw's Insolvency Office. This is related also because of the fact that debtors, for example, can settle their debt or enter into a debt repayment plan with a creditor. So, although you see a higher number of applications, the bankruptcy orders are actually stable.

On the second point, I thought it is worth also talking about and giving some assurances to the Member that we are still monitoring this closely, but to reflect this with regard to stress tests. I mentioned earlier on that bankruptcy orders have been stable despite elevated interest rates – and I know interest rates are now moderating – and also, economic uncertainties continue to persist. But our MAS stress tests suggest that even now, most households should still be able to service their mortgage debt, even under conservative scenarios of significant income losses of around 10% and even at elevated mortgage rates of 5.5%. Of course, this would change given that interest rates are moving in a different direction now.

And even in the above stress test scenarios, at elevated interest rates, households would still be able to service their mortgages from financial institutions, although a very small segment, the one that Mr Derrick Goh mentioned, of highly leveraged borrowers with below median household incomes, could be more vulnerable to repayment risks. But such borrowers also account for less than 5% of total mortgage loans by count and comprise mostly private housing loans.

Looking ahead, given the expected decline in domestic interest rates, we think that it should ease debt repayment for borrowers. MAS will look into these and monitor these carefully.

The following question stood in the name of Mr Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant –

21 To ask the Minister for Defence (a) whether the Ministry can provide details on the safety audits and review processes that are regularly conducted by the SAF Inspector-General’s Office at training camps; (b) what are the common safety lapses that continue to occur during the SAF’s training and the reasons behind such occurrences and; (c) what steps have been put in place to ensure such lapses do not recur and the quality and standard of SAF’s training is not compromised.

Question No 21, Sir.

Mr Speaker, each year the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) Inspector General's Office (IGO) conducts between 40 and 50 physical audits and reviews of safety standards and practices involving SAF Formations and units. The safety policies, management system and culture, day-to-day practices, compliance to training safety instructions and attention of commanders to safety outcomes form part of these inspections. In addition, the IGO also looks into notable safety incidents and near misses to establish their root causes, to determine if there are safety lapses and recommend corrective actions where necessary.

In carrying out its work, the IGO also taps on external experts and review panels, including the External Review Panel on SAF Safety, which provides further independent reviews, benchmarking and recommendations on the SAF's safety management systems and practices.

While there have been no significant systemic weaknesses identified, the IGO recognises that the journey to zero accidents is a continuous one that requires constant effort to improve the safety culture for all units.

From time to time, particular attention is paid to strengthen safety in specific areas. For example, the current area of focus is to reduce vehicular incidents, as the SAF operates a large number and range of vehicles, ranging from jeeps, utility vehicles and trucks, as well as armoured vehicles such as tanks. The SAF has been strengthening its training regime. Vehicle operators are trained progressively, first qualifying to drive, before gaining experience and confidence to operate larger and more complex vehicles. Simulators and driving circuits are used to increase training hours and expand the range of training scenarios, including challenging and contingency situations. On our vehicular platforms, technologies such as vehicular proximity sensors and cameras have been adopted to reduce human judgement errors.