Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
Summary
This statement concerns the commencement of the Committee of Supply regarding the Main and Development Estimates of Expenditure for the 2022 financial year. The Chairman notes that 639 amendments have been submitted and explains that guillotine times have been adjusted to account for extended sitting hours and reduced Question Time. He reminds Members that discussion times for each Head of Expenditure include front bench replies and urges strict adherence to the digital timer. The Chairman emphasizes that he will be stringent in time-keeping for both the back and front benches to manage the heavy schedule. The proceedings then move to Head U for the Prime Minister’s Office, beginning with Ms Tin Pei Ling.
Transcript
Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [1st Allotted Day].
[Mr Speaker in the Chair]
4.06 pm
The Chairman: Main and Development Estimates of Expenditure of Singapore for the financial year 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 contained in Paper Cmd 12 of 2022. For convenience, I shall take the totals for each Head of Expenditure in the Main and Development Estimates as they appear in the last columns of the schedules of estimated expenditure under the Main and Development Estimates Outlays for FY 2022 on pages 6 and 7 respectively of the Command Paper.
A total of 639 amendments to the Estimates of Expenditure have been submitted this year. The guillotine times to the discussion of the Heads of Expenditure under Standing Order 92(7)(a) have taken into consideration the earlier commencement time of a Sitting, the reduction of Question Time and the extension of Sitting times of the Committee of Supply for each allotted day.
I must remind hon Members that the total time for discussion of each Head of Expenditure includes the replies from the front bench. With the assistance of the digital timer in the Chamber, I trust that hon Members will be able to keep to the speech times indicated against their amendments. I would urge hon Members, both from the back and front benches, to adhere to their time limits, as I will be stringent in my time-keeping.
I shall deal first with the Heads of Expenditure in respect of which amendments stand on the Order Paper Supplement. Head U – Prime Minister's Office. Ms Tin Pei Ling.