Hansard, Wednesday, 3 April 2024

1 Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Health (a) whether there are plans to provide adult Singaporeans access to affordable health planning programmes; and (b) whether the Ministry will support the growth and development of professional health and well-being coaches to cater for such health planning needs.

Mr Speaker, we have made health planning affordable for Healthier SG (HSG) enrollees by fully subsidising their first Health Plan consultations with their enrolled family doctor. During these consultations, residents discuss follow-up actions to improve their health with their family doctors, such as health screening, and exercise and diet adjustments. More than half of HSG enrollees have consulted their chosen doctors to develop a personal Health Plan.

On top of this, there are other types of planning and support available from community partners and healthcare clusters. For example, Sport Singapore’s Active Health Labs offer residents opportunities to have a guided fitness and health assessment, and recommendations on how to achieve fitness and health goals. Healthcare providers can prescribe Active Health's targeted programmes to residents who are medically at risk of lifestyle-related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity or hypertension.

Some Community Health Posts provided by healthcare clusters at accessible locations, such as Active Ageing Centres, also provide support for individuals to make diet and lifestyle changes. Resources, such as informative articles recommended programmes, are also available on HealthHub and Healthy 365, to support residents in embracing a healthier lifestyle.

Health planning and support covers a wide scope of activities involving different groups, including Government agencies like the Ministry of Health (MOH), People's Association (PA) and SportSG as well as the groups in the community like professional associations. All agencies and organisations across the healthcare and sporting ecosystems have a role to play in upskilling staff, volunteers and partners, including health and well-being coaches, to support the delivery of better health.

Ms See.

I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. I just wanted to find out whether there would be intention to have single touch points, where those who are not within the first phase – for example, if I am in my 30s or 40s, but I recognise that I would like to take a more active action towards health planning, including diet, fitness as well as lifestyle changes – would there be a single touch point who we could approach so that we can integrate all these various facilities and help available?

I thank the Member for her question. In the work that we do, what we have realised that people come across our portals through very different situations; they are all at different phases of their lives. So, while it may be useful to have one touch point, but in terms of reaching out, it is meaningful to have many different people doing it in different manners. That is why we work with various partners. There are the key sources of information which we want citizens and residents to refer to, like Healthy 365 and HealthHub. These are the key touch points.

In terms of outreach, it is more meaningful to have different permutations, different platforms, at workplaces especially for working adults, at the community for those who are a bit more elderly, and maybe in schools for children. While we do note that there needs to be a single resource, it might be helpful to have different touch points.

If you are looking at it, though, from the perspective of partners who want to work with us, perhaps, I would suggest the Health Promotion Board (HPB) would be the one agency that maybe useful for you to start off with. But, as I said earlier, PA, SportSG also do different dimensions of the work. If you do want to try and tie up for certain efforts, you may refer it to me and perhaps we can connect you to HPB.

Ms See.

I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. I think the perspective would be the professionals, managers and executives (PMEs). The PMEs that we come across, given people are now more aware of chronic illness and all that, they do recognise that it does take a holistic approach to health – not just physical activity, but what types of physical activity, what types of diet.

People are also wondering if, for example from Healthy 365 or HealthHub, would there be a way in which they can take a more involved approach, but seeking professional advice to construct a health plan which would allow them to be personalised and addressing their aliments.

As I mentioned earlier in my answer, there are different touch points for these PMEs to reach out to. At the moment, we are also building those up. If the Member has any other suggestions as to how we can build on these further, we are happy to hear from you and we can see how we can make this more meaningful for the community.

2 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health (a) to date, how many telemedicine service providers are operating in Singapore; (b) what has been the take-up rate of these services, including the number of consultations conducted or patients served; (c) whether telemedicine services have contributed to a drop in non-emergency cases at the emergency departments; and (d) whether there are plans to increase public awareness and promote the use of telemedicine services for non-emergency conditions.

Sir, many outpatient medical service providers are approved to provide telemedicine services under the Healthcare Services Act (HCSA), of which 19 are standalone telemedicine providers without physical premises.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) does not track the take-up rate of telemedicine services. There is also no definitive data on whether telemedicine has reduced non-emergency attendances at Emergency Departments, especially given an ageing population with rising demand for healthcare.

Telemedicine services have been facilitated by MOH in primary care for chronic disease management and in specialist outpatient settings for specific conditions. MOH will continue to facilitate the application of telemedicine service in appropriate settings.

Mr Yip.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Senior Minister of State for his response. From a systems perspective, integrating telemedicine into existing care protocols rather than offering them as an optional add-on, is critical for optimising patient care delivery. This balanced approach empowers healthcare professionals to assess the most suitable modality for each patient's needs, avoiding unnecessary telemedicine use. With this in mind, I have two questions.

First, for new hospitals opened to piloting telemedicine, can it be incorporated as a standard part of routine clinical practice? Second, beyond public awareness campaigns, are there plans to incentivise primary care physicians to utilise telemedicine for appropriate consultations? This could potentially reduce strain on emergency services and generate cost savings.

Sir, I thank Mr Yip for his questions. Telemedicine is a tool. The technology and the platform are potentially quite useful – and he has illustrated and described some of the ways in which it can change patterns of behaviour. It is a tool that needs to be chosen by two parties: the clinical provider and the potential patient.

Our approach to say it is an option. And where it is a suitable option for the clinical providers because is safe, efficacious, it provides better quality of care; or for the patient because it is convenient and provides better access, then, we want to remove the obstacles for the clinician or the patient from choosing this. So, we are working on standardising the regulatory approach across, as well as reducing some of the barriers in terms of cost and financials associated in terms of the choice that a patient might make.

So, the short answer to both questions is that we would like to see progress for hospitals as well as primary care using telemedicine services appropriately, where it makes a difference to the clinical care, where it becomes more convenient and more acceptable to the patients.

3 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport with regard to the new requirement for flights departing Singapore to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from 2026 (a) what are the metrics to monitor for global developments and the wider availability and adoption of SAF that the Ministry will use to determine whether to raise the SAF targets; and (b) whether the Ministry has any projected targets for the use of SAF from 2026 to 2050.

Mr Speaker, our approach to build a Sustainable Aviation Fuel ecosystem strikes a balance between economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability.

As explained in our announcement during the Changi Aviation Summit in February 2024, we will take into account developments such as the approaches of other air hubs towards Sustainable Aviation Fuel adoption, the scale of Sustainable Aviation Fuel production and availability of supply around the world, before deciding on our Sustainable Aviation Fuel target beyond 2026.

Mr Tan.

I thank the Minister for the answer. I have three supplementary questions. Number one, will the Government consider mandating for airlines arriving and departing Singapore to publish their percentage use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel and the emissions reduced as a result to promote greater consumer demand for greener flights?

Number two, when determining the reduction of emissions from the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, will the Government take into account the type of fuel used, as certain types of fuel, such as crop-based fuel, may lead to greater conversion of forests or grassland and release stock carbon, resulting in greater production emissions?

And number three, will the Government study plans by other countries with higher Sustainable Aviation Fuel targets, such as Britain, Japan and the European Union, to raise our projected targets even further?

Mr Speaker, the flights that are departing Singapore, I think that is where the Sustainable Aviation Fuel requirement will be imposed. So, if the flights are coming in from another country, then it will be for the authorities in that airport that the flights are departing from, to impose this on the departing flights.

Types of fuel, certainly, there are standards, including by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), looking at the fuels that will qualify as Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Singapore will take reference from these international standards.

Lastly, I have also mentioned in the announcement during the Changi Aviation Summit, that the 1% target that we are starting with in 2026 is a first step. We will continue to monitor international developments and look at what we want to do for the subsequent steps. I think it is important to strike a balance between achieving reductions in carbon emissions on the one hand, and protecting the competitiveness of our air hub on the other hand. Both are important. And one very key factor, Mr Speaker, would be the production and supply capacity globally.

We hope that with Singapore and also other authorities around the world, sending a signal to producers that we want them to invest in new production capacity, this will help to raise the level of production globally.

4 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the information on job, business or income which HDB will require from a person who is making a housing loan application and what is the time period required for such information; and (b) whether there is any distinction between the information required for (i) employed persons and (ii) self-employed persons.

Sir, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) conducts credit assessments to gauge the financial ability of loan applicants to service monthly mortgage instalments, based on the applicant’s income. The assessment is carried out when the applicant applies for an HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter and is based on the applicant’s average monthly income over a period of 12 months.

All applicants, regardless of the nature of their employment, are required to provide their CPF contribution history and latest Notice of Assessment for income tax, through Myinfo. HDB will reach out to applicants if further supporting documents are needed.

Unlike employed persons who generally receive monthly CPF contributions from work that can be used to pay mortgage instalments, self-employed persons typically pay their mortgage instalments fully in cash. Hence, they are required to provide their Credit Bureau Report and bank statements for an assessment of their financial position and their ability to pay their mortgage instalments every month.

Mr Tan.

I thank the Senior Minister of State for the answer. Does and will the HDB give different considerations in their assessment of the income of the self-employed to take into account that the business owner or the self-employed may not pay themselves regularly? For example, would the HDB take into account the annual income as declared to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)?

Number two, where the business income may vary. For example, even in a short period of time where a self-employed's business income trajectory increases considerably, can the HDB exercise some flexibility to look at the uptrend of the income at the time of the application?

Sir, the short answer to the Member's question is, that HDB will review on case-by-case basis if the applicant has some specific circumstances. The underlying principle is to make sure that whoever is buying a flat, applying for HDB flat, can service the monthly mortgage payments.

That is why, there is an income assessment criteria, looking at eligibility of the different incomes – the details are on HDB's website – what form of income will be considered, the IRAS statements and the CPF contributions. These are all taken in totality. So, if the Member comes across cases where the applicant requires certain flexibility or case-by-case review, please flag them to HDB and we will take a look.

5 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Education given the growing demand for special needs education, whether the Ministry will be considering initiatives to encourage and train more prospective tertiary students to pursue careers in special needs education and rehabilitation.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Education (MOE) works closely with the social service agencies to attract and retain Special Education (SPED) educators to meet the growing demand for SPED teachers, teacher aides, allied professionals and vocational educators in SPED schools. There are ongoing recruitment efforts to attract university graduates and diploma holders from diverse backgrounds with the relevant skills, competencies and dispositions, including efforts in partnering Institutes of Higher Learning.

Beyond recruitment, MOE is also committed to strengthening the SPED sector as a system.

First, we launched the Journeys of Excellence Package in 2020, to strengthen the professionalism of SPED teachers. This package comprised the SPED teacher career and competency frameworks and training roadmap to provide clarity on career progression, as well as roles and expectations. In 2022, we enhanced the Diploma in Special Education (DISE) to better equip SPED teachers with the necessary skills and competencies. Participation in DISE is a requirement for all SPED teachers and is sponsored by MOE.

MOE will increase funding to SPED schools between 2024 and 2026 to raise the average salaries for teachers and teacher aides to maintain market competitiveness and strengthen the professionalism of the SPED sector.

Mr Yip.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his response. I just have a very short supplementary question. Will the Ministry consider exploring alternative pathways into special needs education, such as attracting professionals with relevant experience from other fields through conversion programmes?

Mr Speaker, the short answer is yes. We welcome anyone who is keen to join the SPED sector. We know this SPED sector is a very challenging sector to be in. It requires determination. It requires passion. It is a calling.

So, we welcome Mr Yip's suggestion and we will look into various ways and work with the social service agencies who are operating the SPED schools, to encourage a lot more people, even through conversion, if there are interested individuals to do so and they are keen to participate in the training programme. As mentioned earlier, we have developed a framework for them to go through professional development, including the starting course, which is a Diploma in Special Education.

6 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether he can provide an update on the transition framework for carbon tax that was first introduced on 12 January 2022; (b) how does the transition framework for existing facilities in the emissions-intensive trade-exposed sectors ease the transition without eroding the price signal for such companies to invest in decarbonisation; and (c) whether an update can be provided on how much SMEs have drawn down on the Energy Efficiency Fund to build capabilities.

Mr Speaker, in January 2022, the Government announced the introduction of the carbon tax transition framework to provide time for Singapore companies in emissions-intensive and trade-exposed (EITE) sectors to adjust to a low-carbon economy and to make the necessary investments for their transformation. Since the announcement, the Economic Development Board (EDB) has been engaging affected companies, such as those in the chemicals and semiconductor sectors, on the details and the implementation of the framework.

The transition framework will be calibrated to spur companies to invest in decarbonisation. Transitory allowances will be provided only for a proportion – only for a proportion – of the companies' emissions and are based on internationally recognised efficiency benchmarks, where available, or the companies' decarbonisation plans.

The remaining emissions will be subject to the prevailing headline carbon tax. The Government will review and adjust the allowances based on how companies have fared in lowering their emissions, as well as international developments and advancements in decarbonisation technologies.

For the Energy Efficiency Fund, 90 projects amounting to $3.4 million have been approved to date. The Energy Efficiency Fund has been subsumed under the enhanced Energy Efficiency Grant – just two days ago – from 1 April 2024, which will be available to more companies.

Ms He.

I thank the Minister for his reply. I have two supplementary questions.

The first is, the Minister said earlier that EDB has been engaging affected companies. I was just wondering how many companies have been reached by EDB and does he have an estimate about how many companies have not yet been engaged by EDB; and how many more to go, basically?

The second question is, is there any significant projected impact from the transition framework on Singapore's climate targets that arise from this, from the framework?

I thank the Member for her supplementary questions. For the first one, under this transition framework, EDB has been engaging the types of facilities in the EITE sectors. They are sectorally determined, so we have them in the chemicals, electronics and biomedical manufacturing sectors. These will receive transitory allowances.

As to the number of companies, you can imagine, these are large sector companies – today, there are more than 20 companies and the list will continue to be populated. But thus far, more than 20 companies. The level of allowances, with EDB's involvement, will factor in the company's decarbonisation plans as well as benchmarking to internationally-recognised efficiency benchmarks, wherever it is applicable.

In time, when appropriate, the Government will release aggregated information on the amount of allowances provided. But this is where I want to also sound a caution. We will need to bear in mind considerations, such as whether these disclosures will inadvertently divulge commercially-sensitive information. I think you can imagine that, in the energy and chemical sector, there are that number of players within Jurong Island and within the entire space.

What was the second question?

The second question is if there is a significant projected impact on the transition framework on Singapore's climate targets.

Mr Speaker, just to answer the second supplementary question. We want to spur and continue to nudge companies to decarbonise ahead of time. We are mindful and we are very focused on achieving that target by 2050. Because this is a developing framework and the companies that we are engaging with are also looking at international benchmarks, in time to come, in about a year from now, I think, we will be able to give you a better, a clearer indication. I seek the Member's patience on this.

7 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Prime Minister (a) what is the extent of MAS’ regulatory oversight of the Central Depository Pte Ltd (CDP) and its relationships and obligations towards individual customers; (b) what avenues for assistance are available for CDP customers who are not digitally literate or savvy, including persons whose accounts have been suspended; and (c) whether MAS considers these avenues adequate in light of some CDP customers being of elderly age and not digitally literate.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Central Depository Pte Ltd (CDP) is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under the Securities and Futures Act 2001 (SFA), as an Approved Clearing House and a Central Depository System to provide securities clearing, settlement and depository services.

MAS expects all MAS-licensed financial institutions to treat their customers fairly, including availing effective support and feedback channels.

At least 99% of all CDP's customers access its services digitally or over calls. Since September 2022, less digitally-savvy customers can access self-help booths at CDP's SGX Vista premises to submit physical documents or seek in-person assistance. They also have the option to book an in-person appointment with CDP via its customer hotline. CDP service representatives also take additional care by offering priority assistance or in-person meetings to customers who have previously indicated difficulties accessing its digital services.

MAS expects CDP to address feedback about the adequacy of its non-digital customer support and closely monitor the performance of its customer service.

Dr Tan.

I thank the Minister of State for his answer. I have got two supplementary questions on behalf of my Clementi residents. Firstly, when MAS sets the service standards for the CDP, are these service standards also benchmarked against what a retail bank might provide to its customers?

We have Clementi residents, such as those from Faber Hills in Clementi, who are elderly and prefer face-to-face interactions and are still quite worried about access to counter service when transacting with the CDP. So, the first question is, whether the standard of service prescribed is different compared to a retail bank which, like CDP, would have many legacy customers who are older and not so digitally-savvy?

My second question, pertains to whether or not the customers who are sent digital notices to provide information to keep their accounts open – do these customers also receive telephone calls or paper, physical letters if they do not respond?

I ask this because I have a Clementi resident, a retired stockbroker, his CDP trading account was suspended because he did not use the online system to update his particulars. My resident says he is not computer literate, does not own a personal computer. So, can the Minister of State confirm whether CDP's practices include telephone and paper physical letter outreach before someone's trading account is suspended, due to potential implications if they need to access that account urgently at a future date?

Sir, I thank Dr Tan Wu Meng for his supplementary questions. Dr Tan Wu Meng has been speaking very passionately about CDP and he has raised many of these discrete cases with me, such as the ones on CDP account openings and suspensions, as well as access to CDP digital services. Both Dr Tan and I have been working on these cases on behalf of his Clementi residents.

On the specific case in point, from what I understand, the particular senior had provided an email address and therefore CDP had reminded the senior to update his particulars; and there was prior warning before account suspension. We have been dealing with that case and the senior's customer account has been restored. So, that is for that.

On his first point, I had mentioned in my earlier reply that MAS expects all MAS-licensed financial institutions to treat customers fairly – including all of the effective support and feedback channels. That includes CDP.

I also want to commend the Member on many of his suggestions over the years. Just to update him on a few aspects, in which there have been enhancements to CDP as a result of MAS engagements with CDP to avail more in-person channels to those that are less digitally-literate.

One point to note is that at least 99% of all CDP customers access its services digitally or over calls. So, that means that a vast majority are digitally-savvy. But as the Member knows, the Government's position is that we are not going to be digital-only but, we want to adopt a digital-first approach. Therefore, CDP has made a couple of different enhancements over the years.

First, CDP now grants in-person appointments via the SGX Vista premises. Second, CDP now provides instant video conferencing services with CDP service representatives. CDP has also published user guides and instructional videos on the Internet and social media. There is also a new chatbot on SGX's website. That said, there are always scope for improvements to CDP's customer journey, including and particularly, for those that are less digitally-savvy.

I want to assure Dr Tan that MAS continues to engage CDP, to address many of the customers' pain points across the user journey, particularly relating to those in in-person appointments and customer statements.

So, finally, if any particular customer wants a physical notice by post, he or she can also make that request and CDP will accede to it.

8 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) whether the Ministry performs horizon scanning of the potential impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on human health and, if so, how; and (b) whether Singapore's sustainability efforts can incorporate reducing the use of items which may contribute to microplastics and nanoplastics being introduced into the environment, food chain and daily life.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations have indicated in their respective reports in 2022 that there is insufficient data to fully understand the impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on human health. Nonetheless, we are closely monitoring international discussions and scientific studies on this topic.

Microplastics and nanoplastics can be produced from the breakdown of larger plastic debris. We have implemented measures to reduce plastic waste, as well as minimise the potential contribution of plastic debris into the environment and marine waters from land-based sources. These include robust waste management systems, a strict anti-littering enforcement regime and measures to encourage businesses and individuals to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics.

Sir, 2024 is designated as the Year of Public Hygiene. We are increasing efforts to work with stakeholders to enhance cleanliness and address littering, including that of plastic waste. We urge everyone to do your part, to keep plastic litter from entering our environment.

Dr Tan Wu Meng.

I thank the Senior Minister of State for her answer. I have two supplementary questions. The first question is on whether or not our agencies are actively doing horizon scans of the medical and scientific literature, and further to that, may I draw the Minister's attention to an article published in the international peer-reviewed journal, The New England Journal of Medicine, on 7 March 2024? It is entitled "Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events", in summary, the research article looks at whether microplastics and nanoplastics can be found in the blood vessels of persons who are unwell and if they correlate with future risk of cardiovascular illness.

So, can I ask secondly to the Minister, although it is still in its early days and although this is just one study published in an international peer-reviewed journal, will the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) work with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other health agencies, to get a sense of what the evolving evidence is on this, so that Singapore can move and make decisions in a timely way, as our understanding evolves regarding the science?

I thank the Member for his supplementary questions, as well as comments. Let me say that, indeed, there is growing momentum on this issue. This issue has been the subject of various international studies and research, and as the Member has cited, this is one of the research that has been undertaken.

But as I have noted, currently, based on the 2022 WHO report that I had cited earlier, the report has stated that the current global evidence on the impact of micro- and nanoplastics on health risk is still inconclusive and more data is needed to better understand the human exposure as well as then to characterise and quantify human health risks.

Even studies, like what the Member has cited, also conclude that further research has to be done.

So, indeed, MSE and MOH and various relevant agencies are working closely together, to better understand and monitor the impact of such environmental pollutants – microplastics and nanoplastics – on human health, and we will continue, as I have said, to track international studies and research in this area and we are open to considering support for relevant and useful research on this topic.

But having said that, in the meantime, we will continue to look at how we can reduce plastic waste, as well as the amount of plastic debris that gets into the environment and marine waters, through our waste management systems, anti-littering enforcement regime, and getting businesses and individuals to also reduce plastic waste created.

And as an assurance, let me also say that the Public Utilities Board, for instance, has been undertaking biennial surveillance of the presence of microplastics in water from our four National Taps since 2017. As of the latest test results in 2023, we have not detected any microplastics in the treated water and we will continue to monitor developments in this area.

9 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry tracks the take-up rate of school-based and community-based Student Care Centres (SCC); (b) if so, what are the take-up rates respectively; and (c) whether programmes under these SCCs can be further enhanced to include additional enrichment activities.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) track the enrolment of students in school-based and community-based Student Care Centres, or SCCs. All 182 primary schools have SCCs, with a total enrolment of about 33,000 students. There are about 190 community-based SCCs that are registered with MSF, with a total enrolment of about 8,300 students.

MOE regularly engages school-based SCCs on their programmes. School-based SCCs are required to provide weekly outdoor programmes and enrichment activities, including reading, speech and drama, creative writing, music and art, to develop values, socio-emotional competencies and 21st century competencies in our students. All registered community-based SCCs are required to meet standards stipulated by MSF, which includes providing a structured daily programme for their students. These SCCs have the flexibility to offer programmes and additional enrichment activities to meet the needs of their students.

Mr Liang Eng Wah.

Thank you, Sir. It has been quite a number of years since we introduced the SCCs. I believe they still serve a good purpose, especially for latch-key kids whose parents are working.

Now that this has been implemented for a number of years, can I ask the Minister of State if MOE would do a fresh review, to see if the programmes can be updated further or can be enhanced, especially, given the emphasis now to embrace learning beyond grades, so, whether the SCCs can be aligned to that as well?

The short answer is yes, we will continue to review the programmes offered at our school-based SCCs. MOE recognises the importance of holistic development of our students and, as mentioned, our school-based SCCs provide outdoor programmes, enrichment activities to develop values and 21st century competencies in our students. And this is in line with our direction to go beyond grades.

Schools also work with SCCs and community partners to support Learning and Development of our students in different ways. For example, the National Library Board conducts reading programmes to cultivate the love for reading in our students. RSVP Singapore organises interest-based activities to engage our SCC students, so that they are imparted with life skills and values.

Mr Liang.

Sir, can I just follow up with another question about whether the demands continue to be there? The Minister of State mentioned 33,000 for school-based SCCs and 8,000 for the community-based SCCs. So, whether we have seen more or higher demand and whether there will be more SCCs to be provided, if so.

Both MOE and MSF together monitor very closely the enrolment of students in both the school-based SCCs, as well as the community-based SCCs. As of now, most SCCs do not have a wait list, or they have a very short wait list.

10 Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry plans to include representatives from the disability sector or SG Enable in the Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness; and (b) if not, what will be done to ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities are adequately represented in ensuring workplace fairness.

The Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness has completed its work and issued its final recommendations in August 2023. I want to assure the Member that the Committee had consulted widely, including with SG Enable and various community groups representing persons with disabilities.

The Committee took into account the feedback and recommended prohibiting workplace discrimination on the basis of disability and supporting employers who wish to hire persons with disabilities. The Committee also recommended issuing a Tripartite Advisory on providing reasonable accommodations, which are adjustments to the job or the work environment that make it possible for employees with disabilities to perform their jobs. The tripartite partners will continue to engage the various community groups and SG Enable when developing this advisory.

11 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for National Development for each year in the last five years (a) what is the number of appeals that HDB has received under all its schemes; (b) how many appeals have been successful; and (c) whether HDB reviews its schemes and policies periodically to reduce the appeal case load.

Sir, from 2019 to 2023, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) received an annual average of around 854,000 pieces of correspondence, which include appeals, feedback and enquiries from members of the public. Appeals comprise a subset of these, averaging around 177,000 appeals per year. These appeals spanned a wide range of issues, such as eligibility for purchase of HDB flats, HDB housing loans and housing grants, housing maintenance issues, public rental housing and parking offences.

HDB takes into consideration the unique circumstances of each case when assessing appeals, and the outcome of each appeal will depend on their individual merits. The Ministry of National Development (MND) and HDB regularly review our housing policies and schemes to ensure that we cater to the evolving needs and aspirations of Singaporean households, and to meet national objectives.

Mr Liang.

Sir, as Members of Parliament, we do send a large number of appeals to HDB, on behalf of residents. For me, in particular, I think they account for up to half the total appeals that I send. So, the question is whether, on one side for the HDB as an organisation, given the case load, are HDB staff spending a disproportionate amount of time handling appeals, which could have otherwise been spent, maybe on the ground, to solve other problems.

While on the other side, the residents are having to wait for weeks or months for HDB to respond. For someone who wants to buy a flat, to withdraw his or her name from a parent's flat, may take weeks or months, just to appeal.

So, can I ask the Senior Minister of State, is this a case where the schemes are structured just too tightly and are less flexible, resulting in high numbers of appeals, and whether should HDB review the schemes to reduce their appeals. For the newer schemes, whether it is possible to design these with the aim to reduce the likelihood of appeals.

I thank the Member for his concern about the workload in HDB and, indeed, we are constantly looking for ways to streamline our officers' workload, so that their time can be spent more productively in serving Singaporeans.

I believe the Member's interests will be in housing-related appeals, so I should add that in the numbers that I have shared with him just now, it includes appeals for parking related offences, which constitute approximately about 40% of the appeal load. Housing-related appeals would be the bulk of the remainder. And we will be reviewing our schemes quite regularly, to make sure that they meet the evolving needs of Singaporeans.

That said, sometimes we do receive appeals where actually there is already a very clear framework. I will give an example of residents or members of the public appealing to ask for priority allocation of a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat. I think this is quite familiar to Members of this House. We have a very clear framework for the application of BTO; there is a ballot.

Nonetheless, there will be members of the public who feel that they should get priority allocation of a flat or even direct allocation of a flat. And much as we already have a framework in place, if such an appeal comes, we will duly look at it and also reply. So, that constitutes some of the volume. There are also cases where, there are changing circumstances of the individual appellant, for instance, their financial circumstances. In fact, I believe, the question just now posed by Mr Dennis Tan relates to this. For deserving cases, we will look at these appeals and provide an answer accordingly.

So, I think outside of these cases where either, there is already a framework and the members of the public know it but they want to appeal nonetheless; or cases where because of changing circumstances, we do need the appeals process in order to ensure that the outcome is fair for the member of the public; we will, nonetheless, continue to review and streamline our schemes wherever possible.

12 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth with the closure of all three public golf courses by 2024 (a) whether there are plans to convert any of the 14 private golf courses for public use; and (b) whether there are plans to ensure that the sport remains accessible to the general public, especially schools and students.

Sir, golfing is a land-intensive sport and there is a need to balance the allocation of land to the sport vis-à-vis the competing demands for land in Singapore, such as for public housing.

We recognise that it is important for the public to have continued access to the sport. The Government is looking at how we can ensure continued access to golf courses. In the near term, we have made available options to provide for public access to golfing.

First, the operator of the Mandai Executive Golf Course has been granted a two-year tenancy extension until December 2026.

Second, taking into consideration the impending closure of the 18-hole public course at Marina Bay Golf Course, the Government had earlier worked with Keppel Club to set aside slots at the Sime Golf Course for public use at an affordable price range, comparable to other public courses. Currently, the majority of slots at the Keppel Sime Course – on both weekdays as well as weekends – are set aside for members of the public. The Government will also look into the feasibility of public golfing facilities for the longer term, bearing in mind other needs of Singaporeans, at the same time.

Mr Chua.

Thank you, Mr Speaker and I thank Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua for the update. I certainly concur with the view that, especially in Singapore where land-size constraints is an issue, it is not an efficient use of space. But I certainly also agree with the view that accessibility and affordability to all sports is important. I just wonder if the Senior Parliamentary Secretary can share if, in the next couple of years, when it comes to lease extension agreements for the private golf clubs, whether a view to public accessibility can be a feature in these agreements?

Mr Speaker, I think the short answer to Mr Chua's question is yes and we do take that into account, both for the near term as well as for the longer term. In the near term, we are working with Keppel Club to see if more slots could be made available. So, for instance, we are exploring the possibility of introducing night golfing at the Keppel Sime Course, for instance, and in the longer term, we will explore all other various options and make sure that public accessibility is one of our key considerations in doing this.

13 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether there has been an increase in the number of artificial intelligence voice cloning scams in Singapore; (b) how many of such scams have occurred this year to date; and (c) how is the Government dealing with these types of scams, including in the areas of enforcement, public education and implementation of technological solutions to prevent their occurrence.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF), has not been tracking the number of such cases. While we have received some reports, where the complainants had alleged that voice-cloning techniques were used by the scammers, the number is not high.

Regardless of scam typology, the SPF works closely with stakeholders, such as local telecommunication companies and messaging application companies, to prevent criminals from using our communication channels as conduits for scams. In 2023, more than 9,200 mobile lines and more than 29,200 WhatsApp lines, which were believed to be used in scams, were submitted for termination.

In addition, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will soon be imposing limits on the number of post-paid SIM cards per subscriber.

As we have mentioned several times in the House, the fight against scams requires a whole-of-society effort. The industry needs to play its part. For example, social media platforms and messaging apps should introduce enhanced user verification measures to weed out inauthentic accounts and prevent scammers from abusing them to perpetrate scams. On its part, the public has to remain vigilant and take the necessary steps to Add, Check, Tell (ACT) against scams.

First, Add. Everyone should make a proactive effort to add security features to their devices to protect themselves against scams. For example, add anti-virus software and update our mobile devices with the latest security patches.

Second, Check. When receiving a phone call or message asking for your personal information, banking credentials or for money transfers, always check and verify separately, even if the other party sounds like someone you know.

Third, Tell. Tell the authorities about your scam encounters. If you suspect that you have fallen prey to a scam, call and tell your bank immediately and ask the bank to activate the "kill-switch" to protect your banking account. If each of us play our part, we can collectively have a better chance of reducing our losses to scammers.

Mr Giam.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Can I clarify how many voice-cloning scam reports were actually received by the Police in the past year? Secondly, there are now AI systems that can clone a person's voice after listening to them speak for as little as three seconds. Scammers can use this cloned voice to trick friends and family members of these persons into transferring money to them. I recently checked the ScamAlert telegram channel and website, but do not see any mention of voice-cloning scams.

Do the National Crime Prevention Council and other agencies plan to educate Singaporeans about this new scam and how to protect themselves? For example, not assuming that the familiar voice on the other end of the line is the person they know and by establishing a common passcode among family members. Lastly, does the Ministry for Home Affairs scan the horizon for new scam technologies and start to take crime prevention measures before the first police reports start coming in?

I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. As I have said, the number is small. With regard to the education efforts and scam technologies, yes, we continue to update and also look at how we work with the different stakeholders in the community, including the public.

At the same time, we are also developing our capabilities. For example, we are developing technical measures in collaboration with the industry. For example, the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) has been developing detection methods for both video and audio deepfakes using artificial intelligence, including the capability to detect voice-cloning.

In addition, the Ministry of Communications and Information and Agency for Science, Technology and Research will officially launch the Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety in the first half of this year. The centre will be a platform to bring together our community of research partners, companies and practitioners in Singapore to build capabilities for a safer Internet.

Such capabilities may include tools and measures to detect harmful content, such as deepfakes and non-factual claims, inject watermarks or trace the origin of digital content and empower vulnerable groups with resources to verify information they encounter online. So, essentially, we will do our part to enhance our capabilities as the scammers themselves do so.

However, as I shared have earlier, it is important for us to continue to engage the ground. I am pleased to share that even at the different Neighbourhood Police Centres, I can see the Police officers engaging the ground – from common layperson to people with knowledge of it – so that the whole society is being protected. Because I think for the scammers, this is an opportunity for them to commit crimes or to steal money from people. But on our part, we have to protect our people. So, we will continue to work hard to engage the whole society.

14 Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Education in light of the 2023 Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey, whether the Ministry plans to (i) discover why, when compared with their university peers, the arts, design and media graduates have poorer employment and salary outcomes and the health sciences graduates have poorer salary outcomes (ii) engage graduates of such courses on how to improve their employment outcomes and (iii) engage the relevant sector agencies and stakeholders to take steps to narrow the employment and salary outcome gap.

Mr Speaker, arts, design and media (ADM) graduates have seen stable employment outcomes and wage increases over the years. In the last 10 years, the average employment rate for ADM graduates was around 88% and the starting salary increased about 3.4% every year. The employment rate and salary level for fresh graduates in this sector are typically lower compared to their peers who join other sectors, such as engineering, built environment and business.

This is reflective of the economic demand and the labour market conditions of each sector. The nature of work and business structures in the ADM sector also mean that there is a higher proportion of freelancers and self-employed persons (SEPs) compared to other sectors.

Under Our SG Arts Plan (2023-2027), the National Arts Council (NAC) is taking active steps to grow capabilities and excellence in the arts sector and support the training and development of SEPs. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and DesignSingapore Council (Dsg) have also been working closely with the universities and key industry partners to provide our graduates with a good education and relevant, in-demand skill sets to take on good jobs and thrive in the workplace. Dsg also facilitates partnerships between universities and companies, such as through the Design Education Advisory Committee, to enhance industry exposure and internship opportunities for our students.

As for health sciences graduates, while the growth in median salaries over the past ten years has been lower than the other graduates from the universities, it increased by 6% in 2023, which was higher than the average increase for university graduates in general. The Ministry of Health (MOH) continues to work with healthcare clusters to review the starting salary and salary package of healthcare workers on a regular basis, to ensure that the salaries remain competitive. MOH also provided funding support to the community care sector over the last 10 years to uplift salaries and most recently, put out salary guidelines for the sector.

To support all students and graduates as they enter the workforce, our universities organise career fairs and have career coaches to provide mentoring and workshops. Graduates can also approach Workforce Singapore's Careers Connect or NTUC's e2i career centres, if they require support in their job search. At the same time, we encourage our students to consider longer-term factors, such as career progression, salary and growth opportunities in the sector, as they pursue their passion and decide on the course of study in the universities.

Ms See.

I thank the Minister of State. I have two supplementary questions. The first is relating to arts and design. I do understand that if we look at arts and design as a vertical skill, then in terms of opportunities, it is quite confined. But I just would like to follow up on some of the mentions in my previous Budget speech. Looking at the growth of various sectors, such as tourism, entertainment and so forth; in Singapore, where, in terms of growth potential and economic opportunities are much more, what would be the steps taken to integrate these creative arts professionals in these fields, with these growth industries? So, that is one.

Second, for health sciences, I also do understand that there is a big push for Healthier SG. What are the opportunity spaces in which the schools are looking at to bridge these graduates with the opportunities on-stream?

I certainly agree with both points. For the arts and design graduates, just for Member's information, they do not just go to arts and design jobs. From the data that we have collected, many of them actually go into public relations, product design, advertising, sales, marketing, graphic design, tourism and many more. So, indeed, in our education, we hope to equip our students with both broad-based as well as vertical skill sets, so that they have more opportunities and career choices when they graduate.

For health sciences, yes, Healthier SG is an exciting development. The Ministry of Education (MOE) will work very closely with MOH to make sure that the curriculum and the skills frameworks are updated so that our students will have maximal opportunities when they graduate.

15 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether Singapore has plans to stockpile uranium to secure energy sources ahead of other countries shifting towards nuclear energy; and (b) what preparations are being made to prepare a core of local talent to enter this industry.

Mr Speaker, the Government has not made any decisions regarding the deployment of nuclear energy in Singapore. As such, we have no plans for uranium stockpiling. Any deployment decision will require detailed studies of the safety, the reliability, the affordability and also the environmental sustainability of nuclear energy in our local context.

So, what we are doing is steadily building capabilities to better understand and assess global developments on advanced nuclear energy technologies.

Mr Gerald Giam.

I thank the Minister for his reply. Can I ask how many scientists are currently at the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative and how many scholarships are awarded each year to help build the pipeline of nuclear scientists and expertise? Beyond technical capabilities, is the Government building up the necessary regulatory policy frameworks that will be needed to oversee potential nuclear energy programmes for both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion? And lastly, is there any timeline in which the Government is going to take a position on this?

I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. I think he has asked about three of them.

We did our last nuclear energy pre-feasibility study in 2012. And since that pre-feasibility study, the National University of Singapore has set up the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative (SNRSI) in 2014, and SNRSI focuses on research and capability development in nuclear safety, science and engineering.

The Government has also set up the Nuclear Safety Research and Education Programme under the Research Innovation and Enterprise 2025 plan to prepare Singapore to understand the implications of the evolution of nuclear energy technologies and regional nuclear energy developments for Singapore, and also to enhance our operational preparedness.

To his first point in terms of the numbers, Sir, the Government supports efforts to train scientists and experts in local and overseas universities. Over the last decade, SNRSI has awarded 30 scholarships for postgraduate studies in areas related to nuclear science and engineering. Thus far, SNRSI has also developed a pipeline of around 40 researchers specialising in radiobiology, radiochemistry and nuclear safety. We aim to build a pool of about 100 experts in the medium to long run.

As for his last point on looking at nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, maybe I can address nuclear fusion first. There is a lot of excitement in the fusion space but to date, on the sustainable basis, the net energy input needed to create that nuclear fusion reaction far exceeds the output of the energy that we can harness. So, the closest system that many of the countries all over the world have developed still is premised on the tokamak technology.

There is a promising new area, which is done in Devon, Massachusetts in the United States by Commonwealth Fusion Systems. They are developing this as a sort of a co-development with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Plasma Science and Fusion Center, and it is called SPARC. It is a smaller-scale tokamak reactor, uses high temperatures super magnets to create the high temperature that is needed.

To date, it is still a developmental project. The actual project has not come to fruition yet. So, we are watching that space very closely and in the process, we have also sent members of the local Singapore team to go there and study how that technology is going to evolve. So, for nuclear fusion, to answer the question, I think it is still quite nascent and we are probably at least a decade away.

For nuclear fusion, there are small modular reactors, there are also Generation 4 thermal reactors which potentially could suit our needs. So, again, we have teams studying those technologies very closely, very intently. But today, there is not a commercialised small modular nuclear reactor or a Generation 4 thermal reactor for us to be able to learn from.

So, we watch the space very closely. In our broad approach, as I have said before, nothing is off the table. We continue to keep our options open to all kinds of low carbon energy, including of course nuclear energy, both fission and fusion. I hope that addresses the Member's question.

Mr Giam.

I thank the Minister for addressing my questions. Just that last question – when is the Government going to take a position on whether to use nuclear energy in our energy mix in the future? Does the Minister agree that it is important to provide some certainty or more certainty to both aspiring scientists and our people with regard to the use of nuclear energy?

I think the Member presupposes that we have made a decision on nuclear energy. And as I have earlier on, when I addressed the Parliamentary Question, I have said that we have not made a decision. The Member has to appreciate that very conventional nuclear reactors, the older versions, the Generation 1, Generation 2, the safety buffer zone is actually beyond even our radius or any part where you can talk about in Singapore. So, we have to wait to a small modular reactor, or the newer Generation 4 type of thermal reactors to be deployed commercially and for us to understand the safety profile before we make a decision.

However, we recognise the fact that radiological safety, the understanding of the operational capabilities, the engineering science behind it, continues to be something that is important and relevant to us. Hence, we have not stopped training our local pipeline of talent, sending them overseas, attaching them to institutions all over, collaborating with them to learn and to adapt that expertise and invite the knowledge, so that at some point in time when we have finally made the decision, we will then bring them back here.

I think this is a very clear enough roadmap given the nascency of the commercialisation of some of these newer generations type of small modular reactors.

For fusion, as I have said earlier on, today, the net energy input put in to develop that fusion reaction is far more than what we are able to extract from it. So, net-net, it does not make economic sense in any way for us to go into it. But having said that, we are still nonetheless studying that, monitoring that space very closely.

I think this is as far as we can tell you. We will not be able to commit to a particular timeline, but that does not mean that we stop looking at it. As I have said today, our pipeline in the medium to long term is 100 researchers at least.

And for our own energy security, we also do not rest on one or two technologies. I said nothing is off the table. We have improved the diversification of our sources of procurement for natural gas. I think I have spent a lot of hours in this House explaining, expounding why we need to diversify our gas sources. We have also gone into Requests for Proposal (RFPs). We have given conditional approvals for up to four gigawatts of low carbon energy imports from around the region. We are also exploring potentially geothermal energy sources within our country itself. We are also piloting a new pathfinder project for ammonia – end-to-end – from bunkering to the generation of electricity using ammonia, with a view that ultimately, once technologies for a more economical means of transportation of low carbon or green hydrogen can be established, we will also go and use that as one of the sources for us to generate power as well.

So, those are the different alternatives that we are now exploring, on top of also keeping our eyes on nuclear energy. I hope that gives the Member the reassurance.

16 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) how does the Singapore Food Agency intend to mitigate vehicular congestion that may arise from the new registration and security measures at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre (PPWC); and (b) whether aspects of this system will be reviewed to take into account the feedback from PPWC vendors and consumers.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is implementing the new Visitor Management System (VMS) at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre (PPWC) in phases. As the PPWC is an important node in our food supply chain, the VMS aims to enhance safety and security on the premises and facilitate contact tracing and site management in the event of emergencies and future pandemics.

This is one of the very important lessons that we learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic and we have to do this in order to protect the interests of the tenants, the public as well as our food security.

The system is being implemented in phases, beginning with PPWC-based operators and tenants from sometime this month onwards to allow them time to adapt to the new system. Any other external visitors visiting the site will only be required to register under the VMS in a much later phase.

So, this will be done in progressive stages. We want to make sure that the tenants are comfortable. To facilitate a smooth transition, SFA has been engaging the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre Association and the stallholders, made trial VMS kiosks available at PPWC and conducted user demonstration practice sessions.

I personally tried registering myself through the onsite kiosk. It is very simple. It takes less than about maybe 10 or 20 seconds if you scan your Singpass on the kiosk. Most of the information will be populated. All you need to do is key in your contact number, like your phone number and then you are done.

Once a user is registered, the registration details will be valid for a whole year. Any future visits to the place within the year will not require new registration. So, the process will be quite hassle-free. The user then just needs to scan your Singpass or your ID on the gantry and you can very quickly enter the premises. I think that is something which I hope would reassure the tenants and users that it would not be a system that will be too cumbersome.

As the various phases are implemented, SFA will review the operation of the system, take into account feedback and any adjustments that are needed to make changes so that any kinks or any inconveniences can be minimised as much as possible. Our aim is to make sure we work with our stakeholders to strike a balance between security and operational interests of PPWC, stallholders and the public.

Mr Yong.

I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply and also his assurances that he is working closely with the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre Association. I think while the intent is clear and the objectives are understandable, I think he has also said that we should strive to strike a balance between security and also the daily operations. The wholesale centre has a whole range of users, from the staff working there which is quite a number, and also the logistics personnel that delivers as well as fetches and distributes the goods there, as well as retail consumers that goes there to buy.

I understand that even without the system, during the peak hours of operations, the traffic conditions are already quite a problem. So, we really hope that the SFA will work very closely to monitor, so that the traffic does not become worse because of the system.

I saw that the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority recently rolled out a QR code system for immigration clearance at our land checkpoints. The feedback so far seems to have been positive. So, would the SFA consider a similar system for the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, Jurong Fishery Port and others, and that you are planning to do, to expedite the access clearance?

Sir, I thank Mr Melvin Yong for raising this suggestion to consider a QR code. I think we are all mindful that it is a very busy place with many different stakeholders going in and out – high human traffic and also high vehicle traffic. So, the approach we take is going to be a gradual one. We start with the tenants who have to be there regularly, on a daily basis, as well as the workers who are permanently working there. We will track how many of them have already pre-registered. The registration need not be done at the kiosk on-site.

In fact, you can do it online. You do not need to be congested in the guardroom trying to register. You can do it online in the comfort of your home or your office. Once that is done, that registration will be valid for a whole year. Then, there will be no further queues needed at the point of entry, except to produce your NRIC or your Singpass on your mobile phone – something which most of us will carry anyway.

When it comes to vehicles, I think it will be the same approach. Delivery personnel who are regularly coming to the place, most tenants will know who their upstream suppliers are and who are their downstream customers. We will give time for the tenants to engage their upstream and downstream stakeholders, to make sure that they are given time to pre-register themselves online; so that when these personnel who are not physically working there on a regular basis, but do come frequently enough to pick up or to deliver items, they can then be processed quite quickly by just scanning their NRIC and a tap, a couple of seconds, the gantry opens and they can enter.

For drivers who are entering the premises, they need not even get off their vehicle. Because at the normal gantry, the ERP gantry where you go to the gantry and you get the fees charged on the ERP device in your vehicle, we have mounted a similar tapping sensor on the gantry.

So, a driver just needs to reach the gantry where the fees are deducted for the per-entry charge or the exit charge. You wind down your window, you tap your IC on the sensor that is mounted at the height of the windows and you can just then drive through without having to disembark the vehicle.

This is the way in which we facilitate traffic flow without increasing congestion. But as I said, we will do this in phases. We want to settle the human traffic first and then we will implement the vehicle part, when we are quite certain that the tenants have already tried to engage most of the upstream and downstream stakeholders so that they will not come there and be surprised by it.

The final phase will then involve the rest of the public. By which time, we hope to have sent out enough information and make the public aware that should they want to turn up, they should pre-register online or must be prepared to bring their IDs for registration with the kiosk at the guardroom.

I hope that reassures the Member that we are considering this very carefully. We will continue to engage the stakeholders there and if there is a way to use other convenient technology like perhaps a QR code, we can consider that. But as I said, because we are using IDs that all of us physically have, there may not really be a need to duplicate another new step by generating a QR code.

17 Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry will consider making available (i) the outdoor fields and indoor sports halls of the Institutes of Technical Education and the Institutes of Higher Learning for the Dual-Use Scheme (DUS) and (ii) other spaces for non-sport DUS purposes including classrooms to be used for continual education programmes; and (b) if not, why not.

Mr Speaker, some sports facilities in our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) are available for public use today. For example, tennis and badminton courts in the National University of Singapore are part of the Dual-Use Scheme (DUS), while several stadium-based running tracks in our other IHLs are open to public during operating hours. Outside of regular teaching hours, some IHLs do rent out their facilities. For example, lecture theatres and classrooms for continuing and education training, programmes that are run by external training providers or events.

Ms See.

I thank the Minister of State. I do understand that there is an increase in demand for various facilities because of the resumption of activities post-COVID-19, as well as also Healthier SG and various initiatives at the community level. Would there be intention to look at, on a broad base, for both sports as well as non-sport use, whether there could be a more systematic way in which these facilities can be made available for different users?

I do understand that there is a certain workflow for sports activities. But for non-sports activities, would there be, perhaps, a more systematic way in which these facilities can be made available to different groups for booking?

Mr Speaker, as mentioned in my reply, selected sports facilities in our IHLs are available to public today. Other sports facilities in our IHLs could be heavily utilised by students, staff, alumni and their community partners after school hours and even on weekends, for co-curricular activities and campus events.

An important consideration for whether these facilities are suitable to be placed under the DUS for public use, would be whether there are physical boundaries that allow separate access points to the sports facilities. This is for the sake of operational safety and security.

As for non-sports facilities, Temasek Polytechnic and the Nanyang Technological University lease their facilities to external training providers to run private programmes. Nevertheless, members of public or other organisations may approach our IHLs directly to request to lease lecture theatres, classroom facilities for activities – Healthier SG included – if they wish to.

18 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower (a) when will the Ministry review the minimum annual leave entitlement of seven days provided for eligible workers under the Employment Act 1968; and (b) what factors will the Ministry consider in determining whether the minimum number of annual leave days should be increased.

Sir, I thank the Member for raising this Parliamentary Question because he is quite passionate about this topic and has asked this several times before.

While the Employment Act stipulates a minimum entitlement of seven days of annual leave, this increases by one day per year of service with the same employer. In 2022, over 90% of full-time resident employees aged 25 to 64 had more than seven days of annual leave. In addition, 64.6% of full-time resident employees aged 25 to 64 had 15 days or more of annual leave, higher than the 61.1% in 2018.

Annual leave entitlements must be seen alongside other entitlements that similarly support employees in balancing their work and personal needs. These include paid public holidays, sick leave and parental leave, which we have just recently enhanced. Besides employees' needs, reviews of leave entitlements must also take into account the impact on business costs. There are no plans to review the annual leave entitlements for now, but we encourage more employers to review their employment benefits holistically to better attract and retain talent in our currently tight labour market.

Mr Ng.

Thank you, Sir. I thank Senior Minister of State for the reply. First, could I just check whether the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is concerned that by increasing the minimum annual leave entitlement, it will result in lower productivity in the company? Because I think it might be the other way, that a more well-rested workforce will be a more productive workforce.

Second, I think three years ago, the Senior Minister of State shared in this House that the worry is that increasing annual leave entitlement would entail business costs. It has been three years, so I did give the Senior Minister of State a good break. Could he just share an update on what exactly are these business costs? And also, whether – taking into account my first point – where a more well-rested workforce will be a more productive workforce and that might actually negate some of these business costs that MOM is concerned about?

Sir, I thank the Member for his questions. The issue of giving more entitled leave and raising business costs is not something straightforward. But I think if you look at it from a very simplistic way: if more people do go on more leave, then the company's operations will require some backfilling, which may then require them to hire more extra people to backfill the persons who are on leave. So, in that more direct way, you can look at it as raising some form of business cost.

But I think when we talk about being more productive, having more leave itself is not the only way to have people getting more rest and therefore becoming more productive. Productivity can come from many ways: through better training; better redesign of the job; and better equipment, for example, for those that need to perform manual tasks.

We are looking at this from a more holistic way, by ensuring that there are avenues for other forms of work arrangements, including flexible work arrangements, and also equipping our workers with better skills and leveraging technology to be a multiplier of productivity.