SALARY OF SPEAKER

6.48 p.m.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, I beg to move the motion* standing in my name.

*The motion reads as follows:

That, pursuant to Article 25 of the Constitution of the States of Singapore, the salary of the Speaker with effect from the 2nd November, 1964, shall be $1,750 a month.

Sir, may I explain to the House the procedure under which the Speaker's salary has been decided at $1,750? Under the Singapore Constitution, the salary and other emoluments of the Speaker must be determined from time to time by the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, it is necessary that today we have to move this motion to decide on the Speaker's salary.

The Prime Minister first approached you, Mr Speaker, to discuss your appointment as Speaker of the Assembly, and you had indicated to him that you could only consider the appointment if you were allowed to continue your private practice as a lawyer and solicitor. The Prime Minister agreed to this and, therefore, it became necessary to consider the question of your salary as Speaker of this House.

The full salary of $3,000 payable to the Speaker was fixed on the basis that the Speaker would do no other job than that of the Speaker of the Assembly. It is apparent that if the Speaker were allowed to continue his private practice, an adjustment would have to be made to the full salary of the Speaker, which had been fixed on a different basis. Therefore, it became necessary to consider under these circumstances what would constitute a fair and proper salary for a part-time Speaker. It was, therefore, agreed between Mr Speaker and the Prime Minister that $1,750 would be a compromise. In addition to this salary, the Speaker still enjoys other perquisites in order to maintain the dignity of his office; for example, a house, a gardener, a car, a chauffeur and an entertainment vote. The lowering of the salary, therefore, in no way is intended to reflect on the duty and the status of the post of the Speaker, and if a future Speaker should take on this job on a full-time basis, then, of course, the salary would have to be reconsidered and possibly the full salary paid.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That, pursuant to Article 25 of the Constitution of the State of Singapore, the salary of thc Speaker with effect from the 2nd November, 1964, shall be $1,750 a month.