Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698830228468.pdf (Singapore)
THIRTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF SINGAPORE FIRST SESSION ORDER PAPER THURSDAY, 28 JANUARY 2016 No.5 1.30 pm QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER* *1.
Mr Alex Yam Ziming: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs in light of growing religious radicalisation of youths in the region (a) what plans are in place to further engage religious organisations in Singapore to look out for youths-at-risk; (b) whether informal religious groups are tracked for potential risks; and (c) whether there are controls over visits by radical overseas religious leaders to Singapore.

*2.
*2.

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: To ask the Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs how is Singapore handling the different practices and ideologies in the name of Islam especially in the context of the emergence of groups such as Islam Nusantara.

*3.
*3.

Mr Alex Yam Ziming: To ask the Minister for Defence (a) if he can provide an update on Singapore's deployment of support to the anti-ISIS coalition since the deployment of a liaison officer to the United States Central Command HQ in December 2014; (b) how effective has SAF's involvement been; (c) whether the annual deployment length has been reviewed; and (d) whether there is any likelihood of an expansion of Singapore's involvement in the coalition.

*4.
*4.

Mr Seah Kian Peng: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development what has been the take-up rate of the Lasting Power of Attorney since its introduction and how can the application process be made more accessible for citizens to sign up for it.

*5.
*5.

Ms Tin Pei Ling: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development what is the assessed efficacy of the pilot programme started in 2014 involving · the appointment of a panel of volunteers as deputies for individuals who are no longer capable of making decisions for themselves.

No.5 28 JANUARY 2016 2 *6.


Mr Seah Kian Peng: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) from 2013 to 2015, how many eligible working fathers have applied for a full week of paid paternity leave; and (b) how many employers have agreed to provide an additional week of paid paternity leave since the initiative was announced at the National Day Rally in August 2015.

*7.
*7.

Mr Christopher de Souza: To ask the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources what steps have been or are being taken under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to prosecute errant companies which have caused or contributed to the serious levels of hazardous haze pollution that Singapore experienced in 2015.

*8.
*8.

Mr Leon Perera: To ask the Minister for Health what is the Ministry doing to promote experimentation and innovation in the eldercare sector so as to encourage care models that provide greater privacy for dementia patients in a space-efficient way.

*9.
Dr Lim Wee Kiak: To ask the Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) since the incorporation of the Council for Private Education (CPE) (a) how many private schools have been ordered to stop conducting courses for contravening the Private Education Act; (b) how many owners of these schools have been taken to court; (c) why one school was operating for a few years before it was ordered to stop; (d) whether the registration of private schools can be tightened by coordinating with ACRA; and (e) how does CPE police such schools to ensure compliance.
*10.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: To ask the Acting Minister for Education (Schools) (a) how many cases of educator sexual misconduct have been reported and investigated over the past five years; (b) how many of these cases have been inconclusive after investigations and what action has been taken; (c) what steps have been taken to monitor the conduct of teachers whose cases have been found inconclusive; and (d) what steps have been taken to separate the teachers from the students in these inconclusive cases.

*11.
*11.

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: To ask the Minister for Manpower whether there will be a review of the healthcare insurance for foreign workers/ foreign domestic workers to include coverage for selective infectious diseases, for example, pulmonary tuberculosis.

*12.
*12.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what is the line-up of major sporting events for this year to be held at the Sports Hub; (b) whether pricing is an issue as to why the Sports Hub is not attracting more bookings; and (c) what is the Government doing to attract more iconic international sporting events to be held at the Sports Hub.

rd· I No.5 28 JANUARY 2016 3 *13.


Mr Alex Yam Ziming: To ask the Minister for National Development (a) what have been the success rates for first-timer and second-timer HDB BTO applicants from 2013-2015; (b) whether the current building rate for new flats is sustainable in light of the application rates; and (c) what are some of the main reasons for multiple unsuccessful applications.

*14.
*14.

Ms Tin Pei Ling: To ask the Minister for National Development whether HDB will consider implementing a new upgrading programme to replace old lifts in HDB estates that are experiencing frequent breakdowns.

*15.
*15.

Ms Joan Pereira: To ask the Minister for Transport whether the Ministry will consider (i) keeping deregistrations of motorcycle Certificates of Entitlement (COE) within the Motorcycles' category instead of the Open category; and (ii) establishing separate COE quotas for normal and luxury motorcycles.

*16.

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: To ask the Minister for Transport whether there can be a review of the Certificate of Entitlement for motorcycles.

*17.
*17.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: To ask the Minister for Transport (a) what is the current traffic speed along the Central Expressway (CTE) between 6-7pm; (b) what is the purpose of having an evening ERP along CTE; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider removing this evening ERP.

*18.
*18.

Mr Christopher de Souza: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the current number of (i) police officers and (ii) crimes committed, per 100,000 population; and (b) how do these figures compare with other major cities in the world like London, New York and Hong Kong.

*19.
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) which agency has jurisdiction over the operating hours of 24-hour amusement centres; (b) what is the basis in allowing them to run a 24-hour operation; (c) whether the Ministry is aware that such centres attract undesirable behaviour especially with alcohol drinking on the premises; (d) how many centres have lost their licences because of police action over the past three years; (e) how many centres are there currently and how many of them are in the heartlands; and (f) whether there will be restrictions on the setting up of such centres in the interest of public safety.
* Members may postpone their Questions to a later sitting day if their Questions are not reached by the end of Question Time.

The postponement forms are available at the Chamber entrances.

To ensure timely notice of such postponements, Members should submit their notices to the Clerk by 4.00 pm.

Questions will be given a written answer if no such notices are received by the Clerk.

No.5 28 JANUARY 2016 4 AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS Introduction of Government Bill 1.
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources: National Environment Agency (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill.

ORDER OF THE DAY AND NOTICE OF MOTION (That marked • is Order of the Day) •1.
PRESIDENT'S SPEECH (ADDRESS OF THANKS): Resumption of Debate on Question (25 January 2016) (4 1 h Allotted Day), 'That the following Address in reply to the Speech of the President be agreed to:- "We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the First Session of this Parliament.".'

- (Mr Christopher de Souza).

2.
Mr Low Thia Khiang (Aljunied) Mr Chen Show Mao (Aljunied) Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied) Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap (Aljunied) Mr Png Eng Huat (Hougang) Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied): NON-CONSTITUENCY MEMBER: That this Parliament, pursuant to section 53 of the Parliamentary Elections Act- (a) declares that the seat of Ms Lee Li Lian, who was elected a non- constituency Member of Parliament under section 52 of the Act, has become vacant by reason of her having failed to take and subscribe before Parliament the Oath of Allegiance under Article 61 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore at the first and second sittings ofthe first session of the present Parliament; and 3 6 (b) resolves that the seat be filled in accordance with sections 52(2) and 9 52(3B)(a) ofthe Act.
No.5 28 JANUARY 2016 5 1.

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3.

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5.

6.

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER Mr Christopher de Souza: To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) whether there has been any industry feedback about the effectiveness of existing flexible work arrangements for mothers returning to the workplace; and (b) whether such arrangements are effective in reducing time spent at work, rather than just a reduction of workload.
Dr Lim Wee Kiak: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many people have been arrested in Singapore for cannabis abuse over the past three years; (b) what is the age and gender breakdown of those arrested; (c) what plans are there to step up the anti-drug campaign on the dangers of cannabis abuse especially among the youth; (d) how long does it take to rehabilitate a cannabis abuser; and (e) whether a student abuser's school/institution will be alerted to look out for other abusers.
Mr Christopher de Souza: To ask the Minister for ·Law given the increasing number of cases of harassment and intimidation by licensed moneylenders (a) whether stronger measures can be introduced to protect borrowers; and (b) whether the time has come to introduce clear guidelines or regulations on acceptable debt collection practices and behaviour, as was recommended by the Advisory Committee on Moneylending in its Final Report.
Mr Christopher de Souza: To ask the Minister for Health (a) what is the rationale for the difference in the cost of medication in local hospitals and pharmacies as compared with those in neighbouring countries; and (b) whether there will be a review of pricing policy in order to balance out the cost between the two, if possible, so as to make medication more affordable for Singaporeans.
Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: To ask the Minister for Health (a) what has been the trend of medical bills for foreign workers in the last five years; and (b) what has been the average size of these bills and the arrears incurred in our restructured hospitals especially for those with more serious diagnoses.
Dr Lim Wee Kiak: To ask the Minister for Health (a) what is the risk of the mosquito-borne virus Zika spreading to Singapore; (b) what measures are in place to prepare our public health services to tackle any outbreak; (c) whether any advisory been sent to the medical community to alert and update them on the latest Zika outbreak; (d) whether Zika fever will be added to the list of notifiable diseases in Singapore; and (e) whether travel advisories will be issued to those who intend to visit the affected countries.
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3 6 9 No.5 28 JANUARY 2016 6 7.

8.

Mr Leon Perera: To ask the Minister for Finance (a) whether the Government monitors if GIC and Temasek Holdings (TH) have investments in haze-linked companies; (b) if so, how much are the total investments of GIC and THin these companies; and (c) how will GIC and TH ensure that their investment monies do not support haze activities.
Mr Leon Perera: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development what is the percentage, by number and dollar value of disbursements, of ComCare interim assistance and Short-to-Medium Term Assistance disbursals in 2010-2015 to recipients who have sought financial assistance due to retrenchment or early termination of contract employment.