REPORTS ON STEEL MILLS AND ON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

Mr David Marshall asked the Minister for Finance whether it is the Government's intention to table (a) the Schereschewsky Report on Steel Mills and (b) the Winsemius Report on Industrial Development, and when will they be tabled.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not the intention of the Government to publish these two Reports. Both Reports were made to the Government on a confidential basis and cannot be published without the consent of the U.N, agencies to which the experts belong.

The Schereschewsky Mission made recommendations on the establishment of a steel industry in Singapore which could be carried out in three phases. The first phase is to start immediately. The second phase is to be implemented when conditions are favourable and after certain technical studies have been completed.

No time has been lost in carrying out the recommendations of the steel mission in respect of the first phase. The steel plant is in the course of establishment at Jurong.

The Winsemius Mission made recommendations on the establishment of certain specific industries in various fields. In addition, they made recommendations on general economic policy as well as a review on present potential strength and sources and weaknesses.

The expert missions sent by the United Nations are of value only if they are able to make recommendations to the best of their judgement and ability. They must not be inhibited by any possibility that their analysis of the problem and recommendations as to solutions would be the subject of public political controversy. For this reason the Government cannot publish the Reports of the two expert missions.

The technical details of the Winsemius Report, such as the type of industries that could be established, the scale of plant, manufacturing processes suitable to Singapore, and other technical details are being made available to investors who are contemplating setting up a factory in Singapore. This work is carried out by the Economic Development Board.

Mr David Marshall: The Minister seems to have given two reasons. I do not know whether they are exclusive or supplementary. Do I understand that the Report is not confidential to the Singapore Government but confidential to the United Nations agency which made it? Or do I understand that, in fact, the reason is that it is a policy of the Singapore Government not to make public reports by United Nations agencies? If it is the second, is the Minister aware that there has been publication of United Nations agencies' reports on other topics?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Basically it is a decision of the Singapore Government not to publish this Report. If we decided to publish them or if we wanted to publish them, we would have to obtain the agreement of the United Nations. They may or may not have any objections, but we have never reached that stage because no such application has been made.

Reports of United Nations missions that have been published are generally studies made by experts in broad fields where either no issues arise which could lead to public or political controversy, or else do not contain information or data or policy guidance which would be in the interests of the Government concerned to keep confidential at least for the time being.

Mr David Marshall: Does the Minister not consider that it would be helpful to inform interested industrialists of the contents of this Report by making it available so that they should know the data and the position as indicated by an impartial world body?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said in my reply, technical data on industries and economic appraisals on potential development are being made available to industries. But broad recommendations on policies or strategies that the Government should follow - that part of it we should keep confidential.

Tun Lim Yew Hock (Cairnhill): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has made reference to the steel plant that will soon be coming up. Can the Minister please inform this House of the extent of aid which the Government has granted to this steel plant, in terms of percentage of capital?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: We are assisting the plant in two ways. First, by speeding up work at the Jurong sindustrial site. It is a pity the Member for Cairnhill was not in the party that visited the site last Sunday, but the Member for Anson was, and he could testify that work is being vigorously carried out to level the site and make it ready for occupation. The second way is by share participation. This is not done by the Government directly but by the Economic Development Board and, subject, of course, to correction, my recollection is that the Economic Development Board is participating to the extent of 20 per cent of the total paid-up capital.