SENIOR COST ACCOUNTANT SECRETARY OF ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT (Qualifications)

Mr Low Por Tuck asked the Prime Minister to state the qualifications required for the posts of Senior Cost Accountant and Secretary of the Electricity Department, the name of the present holder of these two posts, the qualifications he possessed when he was first appointed to them in a dual capacity, what are his present qualifications, whether he is a contract officer, how many times has his contract been renewed, and whether the posts had been circularised before the contract was renewed.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Inche Yaacob Bin Mohamed) (for the Prime Minister): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, the qualifications required for the Senior Cost Accountant are - extensive experience of contractor's costs and accounts, familiarity with electrical terminology, and also an Associate Membership of the Institute of Costs and Works Accountants or an equivalent qualification.

The post of Secretary, City Electricity Department, was formerly designated Assistant Commercial Secretary, but in 1958, it was re-designated Secretary, City Electricity Department. No qualifications have been laid down for the post since its re-designation.

The present holder of the post of temporary Senior Cost Accountant is Mr E. C. Gervin. He was also appointed to act in the post of Secretary, City Electricity Department, in addition to his own duties on 18.8.59, when the substantive holder of the post of Secretary went on leave.

Mr Gervin has only a School Certificate qualification when he was first appointed in 1953. Mr Gervin is a contract officer and his contract has been extended on six occasions. The post of Secretary, City Electricity Department, became vacant on 23.9.59 as a result of the resignation of the substantive holder of the post. No circularization was made as the then City Council extended his contract because of his satisfactory service.

Mr Low Por Tuck: Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister aware that the present holder of the post of Senior Cost Accountant and Secretary of this Electricity Department is an expatriate officer?

Inche Yaacob Bin Mohamed: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, because his services were satis factory, therefore his contract was renewed by the Electricity Department.

Mr Low Por Tuck: Mr Speaker, Sir, I want an answer. I am asking whether the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister is aware that the present holder is an expatriate officer?

Inche Yaacob Bin Mohamed: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, the Member should also realise that the officer is also a citizen of Singapore.

Mr David Marshall: Mr Speaker, Sir, before I ask the question, may I ask for your guidance? We have been some three and a quarter hours on questions, Sir, and I wonder whether our Standing Orders would permit some procedure whereby the remaining questions, including my two, should hold over till the next sitting so that we can get on with the rest of the business of the House.

Mr Speaker: The position is that our Standing Orders are silent on that point. It is, of course, usual in certain other Parliaments for Standing Orders to provide that Question Time should only last one hour. Unfortunately, our Standing Orders are silent on that point; but, of course, the Ministers, if they are so minded, can all say from now on that they will publish their answers in the Official Report. That will be perfectly in order.

The Member for Anson should now ask question No. 43.