INCIDENCE OF PRE-SCHOOL CENTRES ALLOWING STAFF TO START WORK BEFORE PASSING PRE-EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL SCREENING
Dennis Tan asked, for the past three years, how many cases have there been of schools and childcare centres allowing potential teachers or staff to start work before they have passed the pre-employment medical screening.
Tan Chuan-Jin said that over the past three years, one childcare centre was found to have allowed their teacher to work before obtaining the pre-employment medical certification
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MEASURES TO BENCHMARK AND IMPROVE MRT SERVICE DISRUPTION PROBLEMS
Dennis Tan asked for an update on the cause of the recent Circle Line breakdowns.
Khaw Boon Wan said that the cause was signal interference. However, tracking down the source is intellectually very challenging as there are many possibilities. He asked the Member to watch the American Presidential Election first.
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LINK BETWEEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND DEGREE OF OPEN COMPETITION
Leon Perera asked whether the Ministry will consider undertaking a study to determine the link between rates of entrepreneurship in specific industries and the degree of open competition.
S Iswaran did not state whether such a study will be considered by the Ministry.
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CREW OF SINGAPORE-REGISTERED VESSELS ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTIES IN SOUTH CHINA SEA
Leon Perera asked what practical steps and mechanisms does the Government have in place to help owners and crew of Singapore-registered civilian vessels avoid encountering difficulties when sailing over the disputed South China Sea.
Khaw Boon Wan said that the “practical steps and mechanisms” for passages by vessels are implemented within the framework of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
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HIRING OF EX-OFFENDERS IN FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR
Leon Perera asked whether any MAS rules prevent the hiring of any category of ex-offenders for positions in the financial services sector.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that MAS has no rules against the hiring of ex-offenders for positions in the financial industry. However, MAS has the power to issue prohibition orders to prevent persons with “serious criminal convictions” from working in the industry for a specified period of time.
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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY ON USE OF PLASTIC BAGS
Pritam Singh asked if the Ministry has done a study regarding emissions from a bio-degradable plastic bag when incinerated as opposed to one which is not bio-degradable.
Amy Khor said that the Ministry has commissioned a study – Life Cycle Assessment on the different types of single carrier bags used, as well as common forms of containers that are used for food and beverage.
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UPDATE ON LEGAL CASE FOR THE LATE MR LEE KUAN YEW’S ORAL HISTORY TRANSCRIPTS
Sylvia Lim asked if the transcripts of interviews conducted with the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew have to be kept at the Cabinet Secretary, why were they made available to the family at the Ministry of Home Affiars.
Yaacob Ibrahim said as to the process by which the transcripts had been shown to the family, he thinks there must be some reason for doing so.
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CONDITIONS FOR REVOKING TAXI DRIVER’S VOCATIONAL LICENCE
Sylvia Lim asked whether it is possible for taxi drivers to have their licences revoked based on one outstanding case, which has not been settled in the court of law.
Josephine Teo said that if the Member would like to discuss a specific instance, the member should do so offline. As a general policy, the Ministry will have to look at the facts of the case, and the conditions under which a taxi driver’s vocational licence may be revoked is made quite clear, including accumulation of demerit points, offences being committed and physical unfitness.
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ESTATE UPGRADING PROGRAMME FOR PRIVATE ESTATES
Sylvia Lim asked for the government’s estimated budget and schedule for the Estate Upgrading Programme for private estates for the next three years.
Koh Poh Koon replied that each project is about $20 million, and will be called “as and when the resources are available”.
Read the full exchange here.