INSTRUCTIONS ON SAFE USE OF PERSONAL MOBILITY DEVICES
Dennis Tan asked how does the Ministry ensure that employees are adequately instructed by their employers on road traffic rules and safe use of bicycles and PWDs.
Lim Swee Say replied that under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, all companies are required to ensure the safety and health of their workers.
Read the full exchange here.
PLANS FOR ASEAN TO EXECUTE MULTILATERAL APPROACH ON CHINA’S ONE BELT ONE ROAD INITIATIVE
Dennis Tan ask whether ASEAN has any plans to execute a multi-lateral approach in engaging China’s One Belt One Road initiative.
Vivian Balakrishnan replied that ASEAN is keen to explore how the One Belt One Road initiative can complement ASEAN’s development plans to maximise the results of the cooperation.
Read the full exchange here.
TIME SPENT BY TEACHERS ON MARKING ASSIGNMENTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORK
Dennis Tan asked what measures have been taken to reduce the time spent by teachers on marking assignments and administrative work.
Ng Chee Meng replied that the Ministry will continue to incorporate greater use of technology for administrative tasks and simplify work processes to help teachers better manage their workload.
Read the full exchange here.
GOVERNMENT’S ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPERS OF MOBILE APPS FOR FOREIGN WORKERS
Daniel Goh asked what concrete benefits are there for partners in the private sector to develop mobile apps for foreign workers.
Lim Swee Say replied that there is no payment involved to partners as it is a win-win for both parties. He added that the apps are fully owned by the private sector partners.
Read the full exchange here.
REVIEW OF FAMILY-RELATED LAWS GOVERNING LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN STEP-PARENTS AND STEP-CHILDREN
Daniel Goh asked whether there is a need for a comprehensive review of family-related laws to define the legal rights and responsibilities between step-parents and step-children.
Tan Chuan-Jun replied that what rights and responsibilities there may be between a step-parent and a step-child will depend on whether there is a legal relationship between them.
Read the full exchange here.
FOOD WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Daniel Goh asked what percentage of food waste generated is due to the disposal of surplus food.
Masagos Zulkifli replied that in 2016, food waste comprised 10% of total waste in Singapore, including both avoidable and unavoidable food waste. He added that the Ministry is studying various sources of food waste to get the data breakdown.
Read the full exchange here.
EXPRESSWAY VIADUCT COLLAPSE AND WORKPLACE SAFETY
Daniel Goh asked how was the workplace safety track record of the companies that tendered for the construction of the collapsed PIE-TPE viaduct evaluated relative to their bid prices.
Lam Pin Min replied that MOM’s investigations on OKP Pte Ltd on a previous incident in 2015 were still ongoing at the time of the bid evaluation. Although LTA gave OKP a low safety score, OKP offered the lowest tender price and had a “good track record” over the past 10 years. Overall it obtained the “highest score” and was awarded the project.
Read the full exchange here.
GUIDELINES AND AVENUES FOR POLITICAL APPOINTEES TO ADDRESS ALLEGATIONS PUBLICLY
Chen Show Mao asked what are the rules and norms governing whether a Minister should defend his reputation in the courts.
Lee Hsien Loong replied that if it is a serious allegation, the Minister is expected to take court action for defamation, unless there are other special considerations.
Read the full exchange here.
REVIEW OF HDB BLOCKS IN HOUGANG FOR LIFT UPGRADING PROGRAMME
Png Eng Huat asked for an update on the review status of the HDB blocks in Hougang that are not under the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) and the fate of those blocks that will not get LUP after the review.
Lawrence Wong replied it is not possible to implement UP in those blocks due to prohibitive costs, or existing technical or site constraints. He did not provide an answer on the fate of those blocks that will not get LUP.
Read the full exchange here.
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN SINGAPORE ELECTIONS
Png Eng Huat asked whether there were actual incidents of foreigners interfering in our electoral system in the past.
Chan Chun Sing replied that that is taken as a working assumption and that the details are not convenient for him to address publicly.
Read the full exchange here.
DEBAR BLACKLISTED CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES FROM PROJECTS
Low Thia Khiang asked what the Ministry of Manpower considers to be a systemic problem of companies which had industrial accidents that will put them under Business Under Surveillance (BUS).
Sam Tan Chin Siong replied that MOM looks at the company’s WSH system and their risk assessment procedures, and evaluates whether the company’s worksite accidents were due to a lack of WSH regimes or human error.
Leon Perera asked what safeguards are in place against the directors of a company who had been blacklisted to form new companies to bid for government projects.
Sam Tan Chin Siong replied that the records from infringing WSH regulation will follow the company director individually rather than the company.
Read the full exchanges here.
REACH AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PIONEER GENERATION DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SCHEME
Leon Perera asked how many pioneers currently receive payouts under the Pioneer Generation Disability Scheme, how many applicants were there and the success rates, and how the Ministry assesses the effectiveness of the scheme.
Gan Kim Yong replied there were 6,700 applicants in 2014, 9,000 in 2015 and 8,600 in 2014, and 95% had been approved. He did not state the effectiveness.
Read the full exchange here.
CLASS SIZES IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Leon Perera asked what is the current median and mean number of students in a class headed by a form teacher as well as median and mean class size for remedial classes across both primary and secondary schools
Ng Chee Meng replied in 2016 that the average size of class was 33 in primary and 34 in secondary schools, and the median class was 32 in primary and 36 in secondary schools. MOE does not track the size of remedial classes. He added that schools have the flexibility to deploy teachers in an “effective manner”.
Read the full exchange here.
NUMBER OF LOCAL SMES OWNING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Leon Perera asked how many SMEs owned a form of intellectual property (IP) and how does it compare with other developed countries.
K Shanmugam replied that approximately 17,000 SMEs in Singapore own Singapore-registered IP. He said that most developed countries do not track or publish such data but in 2015, an EU report showed that 9% of European SMEs owned IP registered in EU. He also added that the IPOS has been providing assistance to local SMEs on IPs.
Read the full exchange here.
IMPACT OF CESSATION OF SAND IMPORT FROM CAMBODIA
Pritam Singh asked about the impact of Cambodia’s decision to cease export of sand to Singapore, what are the numbers of countries that continue to export and the volume of the sand imported since 2007.
Lawrence Wong replied that Singapore imports sand from a diverse range of countries and that the Ministry has been encouraging the industry to adopt more sustainable methods to reduce the reliance on sand. In 2016, Singapore imported 35 million tonnes of sand, and these figures are publicly available.
Read the full exchange here.
REJECTION OF PRIVATE HIRE CAR DRIVER’S VOCATIONAL LICENCE APPLICATIONS
Pritam Singh asked how many Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licenses (PDVL) have been issued up to end-July 2017, the number of rejected applicants and the number of appeals for these rejected applicants.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that LTA received 47,000 PDVL applications and 1,600 have been rejected. This is because they may have failed background checks, do not meet the driving experience required or have poor driving records. Only 9 out of the 35 appeals have been accepted.
Read the full exchange here.
PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION FORECASTING MAJOR SUPPLY-DEMAND MISMATCH IN SPECIFIC JOB CATEGORIES
Pritam Singh asked whether the Government intends to publish information forecasting major supply-demand mismatch in job categories when rolling out various Industry Transformation Roadmaps.
Lim Swee Say replied that the Skills Framework released will identify new skills needed for Singaporeans to remain employable. He added that WSG has stepped up efforts to help jobseekers with customized career counselling.
Read the full exchange here.
AFFORDABILITY OF DEGREE COURSES FOR MATURE STUDENTS AT AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITIES
Pritam Singh asked how will the Ministry ensure cost of degree programme for mature students at autonomous universities (AU) will be affordable and whether there are plans to extend tuition subsidies to students taking a second degree.
Ong Ye Kung replied that Singaporeans receive 75% subsidy for full-time and part-time degree programmes at AU, and 90% subsidies for those aged 40 and above for first degree programmes. However, there are no subsidies for individuals taking a second degree due to limited resources.
Read the full exchange here.
SAF’S ANTI-TERROR OPERATIONS
Pritam Singh asked what other countries have contributed resources to the military efforts in Philippines against ISIS elements and is Singapore’s contribution part of a multi-national effort.
Ng Eng Hen replied that Singapore’s contribution is not part of a multi-national effort and it has reported that United States and China have contributed to the efforts. He added that Singapore’s contribution is dependent on what the Armed Forces of Philippines require.
Read the full exchange here.
PARKING OF VEHICLES BY CAR RENTAL COMPANIES AT RESIDENTIAL ESTATES
Sylvia Lim asked what measures are in place to ensure that car rental companies do not abuse roads in residential estates as parking spaces for cars not hired.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that LTA cannot forbid any company and individual from parking on public roads that allow parking.
Read the full exchange here.
CONDITIONS GOVERNING PERMITS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKS ON TERRACE HOUSES
Sylvia Lim asked under what conditions does the Government permit construction on terrace houses that will detach the house from an adjoining house, how many reported cases of such construction has caused the adjoining house to experience problems, and which agency is to enforce such a breach of regulations.
Lawrence Wong replied that the URA imposes two key conditions; the homeowner must plaster, paint and neaten the adjoining house during demolition, and the adjoining homeowner must grant access to his property to do such works. Out of the 47 proposals granted only one complaint was received regarding structural damages and other problems. The Building and Construction Authority is to enforce any breach of regulations.
Read the full exchange here.