Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022
Ministry of FinanceSpeakers
Summary
This motion concerns the Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for FY 2021/2022, where Second Minister for Finance Ms Indranee Rajah moved to increase funding for COVID-19 relief efforts. Head L was increased by $23 million to assist hawker stallholders, while Head Z received an additional $680 million for the Jobs Support Scheme and rental relief. In contrast, the requested $67 million for Head W was withdrawn as the Ministry of Transport identified $198 million in under-utilisation, leading to a $131 million reduction. These adjustments address financial needs and operational disruptions arising from the pandemic. Parliament ultimately approved a total sum of $1,706,000,000 to be supplied to the Government under the amended Supplementary Main Estimates.
Transcript
Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [Allotted Day].
[Deputy Speaker (Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo) in the Chair]
8.41 pm
The Chairman: Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, contained in Paper Cmd 7 of 2021. I shall deal first with the Heads of Expenditure in respect of which amendments stand on the Order Paper Supplement.
Head L – Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment
The Chairman: Head L, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, Minister Indranee Rajah.
Grants, Subventions and Capital Injections to Organisations
The Second Minister for Finance (Ms Indranee Rajah): Mdm Chairperson, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated to Head L of the Main Estimates be increased by $23,000,000".
The increase is to support stallholders in hawker centres and markets managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) during periods of heightened safe management measures as announced in the Minister for Finance's Ministerial Statement on 26 July 2021.
Question proposed.
The Chairman: Any clarifications? None.
Question, "That the total sum to be allocated to Head L of the Main Estimates be increased by $23,000,000", put, and agreed to.
Question, "That the increased sum of $46,000,000 for Head L stand part of the Main Estimates", put, and agreed to.
Head Z – Financial Transfers
The Chairman: Head Z, Financial Transfers. Minister Indranee Rajah.
Grants, Subventions and Capital Injections to Organisations
Ms Indranee Rajah: Mdm Chairperson, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated to Head Z of the Main Estimates be increased by $680,000,000".
The increase is to support affected businesses and individuals during periods of heightened safe management measures through the Jobs Support Scheme and rental relief as announced by the Minister for Finance's Ministerial Statement on 26 July 2021.
Question proposed.
The Chairman: Clarifications? None.
Question, "That the total sum to be allocated to Head Z of the Main Estimates be increased by $680,000,000", put, and agreed to.
Question, "That the increased sum of $1,660,000,000 for Head Z stand part of the Main Estimates", put, and agreed to.
Head W – Ministry of Transport
The Chairman: I shall now deal with the remaining Head of Expenditure. Head W, Ministry of Transport. Minister Indranee Rajah.
Ms Indranee Rajah: Mdm Chairperson, the Supplementary Estimates of $67 million for Head W, as printed in Paper Cmd 7 of 2021 are no longer required after taking into account further under-utilisation identified in the Ministry of Transport (MOT)’s operating expenditure due to disruptions arising from COVID-19.
MOT has surfaced under-utilisation of $198 million. This is more than the $67 million of additional funds originally sought for and printed in Paper Cmd 7 of 2021. The appropriations for MOT should be reduced by an amount of $131 million, and this is reflected in the Supplementary Supply and Budget Adjustments (FY 2021) Bill introduced on 26 July 2021.
The Chairman: In view of the update by Minister, there will not be a vote on Head W.
Question, "That the sum of $1,706,000,000 shall be supplied to the Government under the Heads of Expenditure for the public services shown in the Supplementary Main Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, as amended, contained in Paper Cmd 7 of 2021," put, and agreed to.
The Chairman: Resolution to be reported.
Thereupon Mdm Deputy Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.
Mdm Deputy Speaker: Minister Indranee Rajah.
Ms Indranee Rajah: Mdm Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has come to a certain resolution.
Resolution reported –
That the sum of $1,706,000,000 shall be supplied to the Government under the Heads of Expenditure for the public services shown in the Supplementary Main Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, as amended, contained in Paper Cmd 7 of 2021.
Ms Indranee Rajah: Mdm Deputy Speaker, I beg to move, "That Parliament doth agree with the Committee on the said resolution."
Question put, and agreed to.
Resolution accordingly agreed to.