REQUIREMENT FOR THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATORS TO ADHERE TO SINGAPORE MEDICAL COUNCIL ETHICAL GUIDELINES
Dennis Tan asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry tracks the number of medical professionals that has agreements with third party administrators (TPAs) and whether the Ministry will consider TPA should adhere to Singapore Medical Council (SMC) ethical guidelines.
Dr Lam Pin Min replied TPA are not regulated but the Singapore Medical Council’s Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (ECEG) does provide guidelines for fees between doctors and TPA. SMC also has statutory power to take action against those who violate the guidelines.
In a supplementary question, Dennis Tan responded with a Business Times quote from Health Economist, Phua Kai Hong who believes that TPA may drive up Singapore healthcare cost.
Dr Lam Pin Min acknowledged the possibility of TPA’s fee arrangement impacting healthcare cost, stating SMC’s role to ensure that this does not occur. The ECEG has been revised to provide more clarity in contracts and appropriate fees structure.
Read the full exchange here.
TRIPARTITE STANDARDS FOR EMPLOYMENT OF TERM CONTRACT EMPLOYEES
Daniel Goh asked the Minister for Manpower how many companies have adopted the Tripartite Standards for employment of term contract employees, how many percentage does this account for among all resident term contract employees and whether the companies will be audited as well as how it will be improved.
Josephine Teo replied that over 400 employers have adopted the Standard, accounting for 17% of the 28,000 resident term contract employees. The standards spell out verifiable actions that employers commit to undertake which the employees can report to the Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP).
In a supplementary question, Daniel Goh queried whether any mechanism was available to review the compliance by companies and to give sanctions to those who fail to comply.
Josephine Teo replied that there are review mechanisms available. TAFEP also coordinates positions taken by NTUC as well as Singapore National Employers’ Federation to adjust standards based on changing needs.
Daniel Goh further asked if the annual self-assessment of Standards is submitted to Ministry for tracking purposes.
Josephine Teo replied that the Ministry does not require companies to submit any self-assessment documents to avoid loading unnecessary administrative work.
Read the full exchange here.
MEASURES TO DETER BULLYING IN SCHOOLS
Daniel Goh asked the Minister for Education (Schools) how prevalent and serious is bullying in our schools, what preventative measures exist to minimize and detect it, whether teachers are trained to handle such incidents and whether students involved are given counselling care.
Ng Chee Meng replied that based on a student perception survey by OECD in 2015, about 10% – 20% of our 15 year-old students experienced bullying in some form of social and verbal. He said that school personnel have been trained to give attention to and address hurtful behaviours. Teachers are trained on classroom management strategies to build a positive classroom culture.
In a supplementary question, Daniel Goh asked how the Ministry would tackle video recording of bullying posted online.
Ng Chee Meng replied that the use of handphones in classroom is prohibited. He added that it is important to teach students how to cope with bullying and taking positive action to deal with negative behaviours.
Leon Perera further asked about the awareness of a national hotline by the Singapore Children’s Society across all school and whether MOE analyzes the data from the hotline.
Ng Chee Meng said that there are different avenues for students to report bullying and it is best to deal with it through the peer, teacher and counselling network. He added that he does not have the data on patterns of hotline reporting and asked Leon Perera to file a separate Parliamentary Question.
Read the full exchange here.
NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL PROGRAMME (NRP)
Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for National Development what is the rationale for 75% support from eligible households for NRP where residents do not need to co-pay and whether the Ministry will set a timeline for tendering of NRP works when it is announced.
Desmond Lee replied that the minimum 75% support provide certainty that the proposed improvements meet the majority of residents’ needs. He added that the recommended timeline for NRP works tender is 12 months from the announcement, however, it may vary from projects to projects.
In a supplementary question, Png Eng Huat asked whether the Ministry will reconsider reviewing the 75% support to a lower percentage as residents do not understand why voting should occur when they do not co-pay.
Desmond Lee said that reducing or doing away with various poll requirements will make it difficult to determine if the facilities are needed by the residents.
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INCIDENCES OF FREON GAS LEAKS ON MRT AND LRT RAIL SYSTEMS
Leon Perera asked the Minister for Transport how many incidences of Freon gas leaks on the MRT and LRT rail system has occurred over the past 10 years and what are the risks to commuters.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that there have been 23 instances of Freon gas leaks. He added that the leaks pose no health risk.
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GOVERNMENT WEBSITES THAT MEET STANDARDS FOR ACCESS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWD)
Leon Perera asked the Prime Minister how many websites of Ministries and statutory board meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and other international standards for website accessibility by PWDs.
Janil Puthucheary replied that Government’s websites are required to satisfy to WCAG 2.0 and these websites are audited for compliance. Over the past three years, 90% of the websites audited met requirements, those which did not were required to meet the standards within several months. Citizens including PWDs who need further help can visit Citizen Connect Centres that are set up at various Community Centres for assistance.
In a supplementary question, Leon Perera asked if this meant that 100% of the Government and statutory boards are compliant with WCAG 2.0 standard at the present point in time.
Janil Puthucheary replied that it is hard to ascertain that 100% of every webpage in the Public Sector is compliant because of continuous updates. He added that the audit is ongoing and asked Members to inform the Ministry is he comes across any non-compliant websites.
Read the full exchange here.
MEASURES TO HANDLE ACCIDENTS WHERE PASSENGERS FALL ONTO MRT OR LRT TRACKS
Leon Perera asked the Minister for Transport what measures are in place to handle accidents where passengers fall onto the MRT or LRT tracks.
Ng Chee Meng replied that screen doors are installed at every MRT platform and safety barriers at Bukit Panjang LRT, while the ones at Sengkang-Punggol LRT will be installed next year. He said that emergency stop plungers are also available at every platform. Currently, rail operators are required to inform commuters about safety practices through signs and regular announcements. LTA and SMRT are also testing video analytics to alert train operators to incidents on tracks.
Read the full exchange here.
SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO RESTORE PEACE AND STABILITY IN MYANMAR’S RAKHINE STATE
Pritam Singh asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs what is the Government’s assessment of the Humanitarian tragedy facing the Rohingya population in Myanmar and whether there is a constructive role ASEAN can play to address this crisis.
Vivian Balakrishnan replied that the Government urges the restoration of peace, stability and rule of law in Rakhine state. He said that the Singapore Red Cross has been working with other charities to provide relief and assistance. He added that in an informal meeting held in September 2017, ASEAN would be activating the Coordinating Centre of Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) to work with the Myanmar Government to deliver humanitarian assistance to all displaced inhabitants.
Read the full exchange here.
DELAY IN UPGRADING NORTH-SOUTH AND EAST-WEST MRT LINES
Dennis Tan asked the Minister for Transport whether the Government was consulted regarding the delay in upgrading the North-South and East-West MRT lines initially slated for 2002 but only proceeded in 2012, and why the Government allowed the delay.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that the decision was internal and was not in breach of the original license which stated that SMRT was solely responsible for upgrading of its own rail operating assets. However, under the New Rail Financing Framework, LTA now owns the operating assets and is responsible for renewal and upgrading.
Read the full exchange here.
VESSELS USING/TRANSITING STRAITS OF SINGAPORE AND OTHER WATERS UNDER JURISDICTION OF SINGAPORE VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE
Dennis Tan asked for the number of vessels transiting through the Straits of Singapore, and the number of reported incidents.
Khaw Boon Wan said that the Singapore Straits is a busy waterway and a major transhipment hub, and major incidents have dropped from 13 in 2011, to 1 in 2016.
Read the full exchange here.
ACCIDENTS INVOLVING UNAUTHORIZED AND ILLEGALLY MODIFIED POWER-ASSISTED BICYCLES
Dennis Tan enquired if a percentage of power-assisted bicycle accidents is due to illegal modifications, and what action has been imposed to curb unauthorized use.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that they currently do not track the number of accidents for non-compliant power-assisted bicycles, but the LTA will work towards tracking errant users in future.
Read the full exchanges here.
PROTECTION FOR SELF-EMPLOYED PERSONS WHO OFFER DELIVERY SERVICES
Dennis Tan asked whether there is adequate insurance coverage for self-employed persons who provide delivery services on their own mobility devices.
Sam Tan Chin Siong replied that such employees enjoy similar protection under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, although companies have to also ensure that sufficient safety training is conducted.
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REGULATING TRANSACTION FEES AND PLATFORM RENTAL FEES CHARGED BY CASHLESS E-PAYMENT PLATFORMS PROVIDERS
Daniel Goh asked whether the Ministry will regulate transaction fees charged by payment providers, to encourage e-payment adoption by SMEs.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam replied that the government is taking a multi-prong approach to promote e-payment, and is engaging stakeholders to raise awareness and drive adoption.
Read the full exchange here.
ESCALATOR ACCIDENTS IN PAST THREE YEARS
Daniel Goh asked if there has been an improvement in escalator safety since stricter maintenance in November 2016, and how many accidents have not been due to user behavior.
Lawrence Wong replied that 13 accidents have occurred since November 2016 due to technical faults and cautioned the public to exercise care when on escalators.
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PROGRESS OF STUDY ON ARCHAEOLOGY IN SINGAPORE
Daniel Goh asked for an update on the progress of studying archaeology in Singapore, and when the study findings can be published.
Grace Fu replied that the National Heritage Board is exploring legislative changes and initiatives to protect Singapore’s archaeological heritage, and this will move into a public consultation phase in early 2018.
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WIDENING OF FOOTPATHS IN SILVER ZONES
Png Eng Huat asked how many Silver Zones have had adjacent footpaths widened, and if this has not been completed, when it is expected to be implemented by LTA.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that seven have had widened footpaths, and new footpaths will be at least 1.8 metres wide moving forward.
Read the full exchange here.
FINDINGS ON IMPROPER PAYMENTS IN AUDITOR-GENERAL’S REPORT
Png Eng Huat asked when AGO will direct all entities of the report to investigate improper payments made and determine the amount to recover.
Indranee Rajah replied that there is no indication in the AGO report of any fraud transactions, and that any oversight made has been addressed by agencies to recover lost monies.
Read the full exchange here.
NUMBER OF COMCARE APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN AFTER SUBMISSION
Leon Perera asked for the number of ComCare applicants who have withdrawn their applications after submission, and their reasons for doing so.
Desmond Lee replied that withdrawn applications average at 2% per year, and some applicants do not wish to share necessary documents or allow access to their family members to better understand the situation.
Read the full exchange here.
REVIEW AND PUBLISH RESULTS OF GOVERNMENT’S MEASURES TO REDUCE SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITY
Leon Perera asked whether there will be a regular review of the Government’s commitment to reduce socio-economic inequality and publish the findings.
Indranee Rajah replied that the Government is concerned about inequality and provides necessary support to citizens. She said that the government has “kept inequality in check” and that Singaporeans have seen “good income growth”. She added that the lower income group has seen their real per capita household income grow by close to 20% over the last five years.
Read the full exchange here.
COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR DELAYS ON TRAIN LINES
Pritam Singh asked whether there have been any instances where MRT operators have eschewed from making any public announcements of delays in the last two years.
Khaw Boon Wan said that over the last two years, there have been no cases where LTA has found the operator liable for failing to meet requirements.
Read the full exchange here.
LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pritam Singh asked whether MSF intends to further extend or permanently waive the application fee for the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) Form 1 beyond the 31 August 2018 extension.
Desmond Lee replied that the government is currently studying how effective the application fee waiver and other measures have been, so far, in encouraging people to make their LPAs early.
Read the full exchange here.
PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS
Pritam Singh asked whether LTA will consider increasing the pre-defined time period for pedestrians to cross at signalled pedestrian crossings by up to five or ten seconds in mature neighbourhoods or at roads that cannot be enhanced as Silver Zones due to the high volume of traffic, due to an increasing elderly population.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that there are currently 760 Green Man Plus crossings where pedestrians can tap their concession cards on the reader to have more time to cross, and that the government will increase this number to 1000 by end-2018.
Read the full exchange here.
DECISIONS TO BUILD BUKIT PANJANG LRT SYSTEM
Pritam Singh asked whether the Bukit Panjang LRT system was built as an afterthought and about political pressures faced by the Government when it decided to build it.
Ng Chee Meng replied that the LRT had to take sharp turns over undulating terrain which, over time, made the LRT prone to faults, especially power trips at the sharp bends where the trains’ collector shoes often dislodge from the power rail. He did not specifically mention any political pressures.
Read the full exchange here.
SINGAPORE-BASED COMPANIES THAT HAVE INVESTED IN GOVERNMENT’S OVERSEAS INDUSTRIAL PARKS
Leon Perera asked how many Singapore-based companies have cumulatively invested in the Government’s overseas industrial park projects that enjoy G-to-G support such as the Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-City.
S Iswaran replied that in the case of Suzhou Industrial Park, about 340 Singapore companies have established their presence there as at the end of 2016. As of June this year, 42 Singapore companies are registered in the Tianjin Eco-city.
Read the full exchange here.
INCREASE IN COMCARE ASSISTANCE CASES
Leon Perera asked whether SSOs will help applicants who, due to lack of mobility or work reasons, are not able to go down to the SSOs to bring documentation.
Faishal Ibrahim replied that grassroots leaders, fellow residents and SSO officers do house visits to help such applicants.
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REQUIREMENT FOR TCM SHOPS SELLING HERBAL TEAS TO OBTAIN FOODSHOP LICENCES
Sylvia Lim asked about the justification for requiring Traditional Chinese Medicine shops that sell herbal teas to obtain foodshop licences with effect from 1 October 2017.
Masagos Zulkifli replied that on-site food preparation activities, if not done hygienically, can pose risks to public health, such as giving rise to food poisoning, and that the government has engaged the Singapore Chinese Druggist Association and TCM shops on the proposal to license premises so as to ensure the hygienic preparation of these products, strengthen food hygiene standards and give consumers greater assurance when purchasing such products.
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DECLARATIONS BY TOWN COUNCILS OF SECRETARIES WHO FALL UNDER NEW DISQUALIFICATION CRITERIA
Sylvia Lim asked how many Town Councils have declared that their secretaries or relevant key officers come under the new disqualification criteria and which Town Councils have made such declarations to the government.
Desmond Lee replied that in May 2017, MND had requested all Town Councils to inform MND if any of their existing key appointment holders fell within the new disqualification criteria. All Town Councils have informed MND that their key appointment holders do not fall within the new disqualification criteria.
Read the full exchange here.
ESTATE UPGRADING PROGRAMME
Sylvia Lim asked for confirmation that there is no prohibition from the Government for Citizens’ Consultative Committees (CCCs) to work with the MP of an area, even if the MP is not from the ruling Party.
Koh Poh Koon did not provide a direct reply. He said that the CCC is involved in ground engagement, because the Working Committee comprises members of the Neighbourhood Committee – who are residents within the estate themselves – as part of the ground consultation. When the works and the timeline have been settled, the MP for the area will be notified.
Read the full exchange here.