PASSENGER TRANSPORT SERVICES (Licences)

Mr Lee Choon Eng asked the Minister Communications and Works, in view of the different conditions under which licences to operate passenger transport services are granted to the Singapore Traction Company Limited under the Singapore Traction Ordinance and to other passenger-transport companies under the Omnibus Services Licensing Authority Ordinance, 1956, whether he will introduce amending legislation to apply uniform conditions of licensing.

Mr M. P. D. Nair: Sir, amending legislation of the nature to which the hon. Member refers in his question could be enacted only within the framework of decisions taken in the wider and much more complex issues of unification.

The House will recall the information given to it by my predecessor on these wider issues. Nevertheless, since I took over the appointment as Minister for Communications and Works, I have been studying the whole question of the public transport system and the need for satisfying the public demand, and I shall certainly look into the question whether or not it is feasible to introduce amending legislation.