HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL

3.40 p.m.

Order for Second Reading read.

The Minister for Finance (Dr Goh Keng Swee): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill seeks to amend the Housing and Development Ordinance, 1959, so as to bring about uniformity of provisions relating to superannuation of the staff between that Ordinance and the Public Utilities Bill. The latter contains provisions for the appointment of trustees in respect of monies payable on the death of an employee of the Board out of any superannuation scheme to which he belonged. There is also provision in the Public Utilities Bill for the safeguarding of benefits under the Municipal Provident Fund of employees of the Singapore Improvement Trust who have been transferred to the Housing and Development Board.

In moving the Second Reading of the Planning (Amendment) Bill, I explained the necessity for parallel provisions in legislation relating to superannuation and terms and conditions of service of employees of the Trust who have been transferred to the Housing and Development Board and the Planning Department and of the City Council employees who will be transferred to the Government. That explanation holds good here. If I may reiterate, it is that Trust employees were on terms and conditions of service, including superannuation, identical with those of the City Council employees. It will not be equitable, therefore, to provide varying terms and conditions of service and superannuation on their transfer to the Housing and Development Board and the Planning Department.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Committed to the Select Committee to which the Public Utilities Bill has been committed by the Assembly. -[Dr Goh Keng Swee].