Estimates of Expenditure of Singapore for the Financial Year 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021
Summary
This statement concerns the commencement of the Committee of Supply for the FY 2020/2021 Main and Development Estimates of Expenditure. The Chairman announces that 531 amendments were submitted and outlines "guillotine times" under Standing Order 92(7)(a) to manage the debate schedule. He stresses strict adherence to digital timers for both back and front benches, as speech times must include all replies from the front bench. This approach aims to maintain efficiency across extended sitting times despite a reduced Question Time. Discussion begins with Head U for the Prime Minister's Office, initiated by Member of Parliament Seah Kian Peng.
Transcript
Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [1st Allotted Day].
[Mr Speaker in the Chair]
1.32 pm
The Chairman: Main and Development Estimates of Expenditure of Singapore for the financial year 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021, contained in Paper Cmd 24 of 2020. 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 Estimate outlays for FY 2020 on pages 6 and 7 respectively of the Command Paper.
A total of 531 amendments to the Estimates of Expenditure have been submitted for 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 very 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. Mr Seah Kian Peng.