ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL 2009 TO 31ST MARCH 2010

ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL 2009 TO 31ST MARCH 2010:

(Paper Cmd. 1 of 2009): **** Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [1st Allotted Day].

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]:

The Chairman: Main and Development Estimates of Expenditure of Singapore for the financial year 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010, contained in Paper Cmd. 1 of 2009.

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 FY2009 on pages 6 and 7 respectively of the Command Paper.

A total of 374 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 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. I trust that hon. Members will be able to keep to the speech times indicated against their amendments. I would like to urge hon. Members – both from the back and front benches – to adhere to their time limits.

I shall deal first with the Heads of Expenditure in respect of which amendments stand on the Order Paper Supplement.