P.W.D AND S.I.T. ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS

Mrs Seow Peck Leng asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many qualified engineers and architects are there in (i) the Public Works Department, and (ii) the Singapore Improvement Trust; (b) how many of them have more that 6 years' experience; and (c) how many engineers and architects have resigned from these departments since 1st June, 1959.

Mr Ong Eng Guan: Mr Speaker, the Chairman of the S.I.T. has complied with the provisions of sections 38 and 39 of the Singapore Improvement Ordinance in respect of the Trust budget for the year 1960 in every way except as regards the dates -

Mr Speaker: Order. I think the Minister has got the wrong file. We are on question 6.

Mr Ong Eng Guan: I apologise, Mr Speaker. The answers to the very questions are:

(a) 26 qualified engineers and 9 qualified architects in the P.W.D. 11 qualified engineers and 8 qualified architects in the S.I.T.

(b) It is not understood why experience is fixed at six years. It is also not understood what type of engineering or architectural experience the Member for Mountbatten has in mind. In the P.W.D., 10 of the qualified engineers and four of the qualified architects graduated six or more years ago. In the S.I.T., five of the qualified engineers graduated six or more years ago. One of the qualified architects graduated six or more years ago.

(c) Two engineers have resigned from the P.W.D. since 1st June, 1959. In addition, 10 expatriate engineers and three expatriate architects have either retired or given notice to retire under the Malayanisation scheme passed by the previous Government. As regards the S.I.T., three expatriate architects have resigned. In addition, one expatriate architect has retired on reaching the age of 50; two expatriate architects were requested to retire; and one expatriate architect had his contract terminated.