STRIKE BY PUBLIC DAILY RATED EMPLOYEES' UNIONS FEDERATION (Commission of Inquiry)

Mrs Seow Peck Leng asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to appointing a Commission of Inquiry to investigate into the causes of the strike by the Public Daily Rated Employees' Unions Federation.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr S. Ramaswamy) (for the Minister for Finance): In Tamil. [Laughter.]

Mr Speaker: Order. Could the Hon. the Parliamentary Secretary explain why he wishes to speak in Tamil?

Mr Ramaswamy: I beg your pardon. A statement has been issued in the Press that the Government is prepared to set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the demands of the Public Daily Rated Employees' Unions Federation.

Mrs Seow Peck Leng: Mr Speaker, Sir, will the inquiry be on the demands. alone, or will it go into the causes of the strike?

Mr Ramaswamy: To look into the demands.

Mrs Seow Peck Leng: Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Parliamentary Secretary tell us whether the Government will be prepared to include the causes of the strike in the terms of the inquiry, because the public has been greatly inconvenienced? I think the public should know who were responsible and who were the culprits of their inconvenience.

Mr Ramaswamy: That request will be considered.

Dr Sheng Nam Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the Parliamentary Secre tary's answer to this question, that the Government is going to set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate into the claims of the Public Daily Rated Employees' Unions Federation, would it automatically mean, Sir, that the answer to Question No. 15 is no, since they are Commissions of Inquiry set up for different purposes?

Mr Speaker: The answer has been given by the Parliamentary Secretary - he will look into the mater.