ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2008 TO 31ST MARCH, 2009

Sitting resumed at 3.25 pm

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]:

ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE:

FINANCIAL YEAR:

1ST APRIL, 2008 TO:

31ST MARCH, 2009:

(Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008): **** 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 2008 to 31st March 2009, contained in Paper Cmd. 2 of 2008.

Column: 1001

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 2008 on pages 6 and 7 respectively of the Command Paper.

A total of 401 amendments to the Estimates of Expenditure have been submitted this year. The guillotine times for 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. With the assistance of the digital timer in the Chamber and Members’ vast experience last year, I trust that hon. Members will be able to keep to the speech times indicated against their amendments. I would urge honourable Members – both from the back and front benches – to adhere to their time limits, as I intend to keep to these agreed times.

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