MALAYAN AUXILIARY AIR FORCE (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.26 p.m.

The Acting Chief Secretary (Mr S. T. Stewart): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have His Excellency's recommendation and consent to proceed with this Bill. Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill has the same objects and reasons as the two previous Bills just passed in the Assembly. By this Bill, it is proposed that members of the Singapore section of the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force should be enabled to assist in internal security duties along with their counterparts in the Singapore Military Forces and the Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve without having to be called out on actual service under section 17 of the principal Ordinance.

Clause 3 of this amending Bill now provides for their being called out during civil disorders by an order of the Air Officer Commanding, and clause 4 provides that when called out they shall be subject, for disciplinary purposes, to the Air Force Act. Clause 5 of the Bill enables rules to be made to provide for pay and allowances, and the intention is to prescribe the same rates of pay and allowances for service on internal security duties as are now prescribed for continuous training.

The principal Ordinance already provides for rules governing the payment of pensions and gratuities in the event of death or injury, and when the Bill becomes law, steps will be taken to make rules prescribing the rates of compensation payable in the event of injury or death of a member of the force.

Sir, as also stated in the Explanatory Note, the opportunity is also being taken, in clause 2 of this amending Bill, to ensure that all references to the Air Force Act in the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force Ordinance relate to the new Air Force Act which came into force on 1st January this year, and not to the old Air Force Act which has lapsed.

Sir, like the other two previous Bills, I am sure that for the reasons given this Assembly will also pass this amending Bill. Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.