SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION (Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 23 of 1958)

4.54 p.m.

The Financial Secretary (Mr T. M. Hart): Sir, I have His Excellency the Governor's consent to move,

That this Assembly resolves that the sum of $30 shall be supplied to the Government under the head of expenditure and for the services specified in the Schedule contained in Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 23 of 1958.

Sir, you will recall that last year this Assembly approved a revised salary structure for Division IV officers in the Government service. It was not possible at that time to include the Revenue Officers of the Customs Service, as had been intended, because negotiations with their Union had not been completed. These negotiations have now been completed. Agreement has been reached with the Union on the scales shown in the Schedule to the Sessional Paper, to be introduced with effect from 1st January, 1958, subject to the approval of the Assembly.

You will note, Sir, that the new scales which are shown in the Schedule are part of the salary structure of Division IV which has already been approved. The additional cost in 1958 is calculated to be $44,400, and the general effect, I am informed, will be to give Revenue Officers an increase of about $9 per mensem on the average. This is in line with the general run of increases resulting from the revision of salaries of Division IV officers already approved.

Sir, I beg to move.

The Minister for Health (Mr A. J. Braga): Sir, I second it.

Motion committed to Committee of Supply.

Motion and Schedule considered in Committee of Supply.

[Mr SPEAKER in the Chair]

4.56 p.m.

The Minister for Health (Mr A. J. Braga): Schedule-

The Chairman: The summary is at page 2.

Head 27-

Question proposed,

"That the sum of $30 for Head 27 stand part of the Schedule."

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Sir, the agreement to which the Financial Secretary referred, which was arrived at between the Union and the Government was in March this year, and the Union has been waiting anxiously for the new scales to be implemented. I would be obliged if the Financial Secretary could tell the House why it has taken five months before this matter has come to the Assembly.

Mr Hart: The answer, Sir, is that I myself wished to examine the implications of the agreement which had been reached between the Union and the Establishment Branch, and I must accept full responsibility for the delay which has been caused.

Question put, and agreed to.

The sum of $30 for Head 27 ordered to stand part of the Schedule.

The sum of $30 for the Head of Expenditure and for the services specified in the Schedule ordered to stand part of the motion.

Motion and Schedule reported, without amendment.

Question on the Motion put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly resolves that the sum of $30 shall be supplied to the Government under the head of expenditure and for the services specified in the Schedule contained in Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 23 of 1958.