LICENSING OF EATING-SHOPS (Complaints of unnecessary requirements)

Mr S. V. Lingam asked the Minister for Health (i) the number of complaints received by his Ministry alleging that his Ministry officials had insisted on unnecessary requirements for the licensing of eating-shops, etc.; (ii) the number of cases in which he has over-ruled or rescinded the actions of the officials; and (iii) what actions have been taken against the officers concerned.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Sir, the answers to the queries by the Member for Aijunied are as follows.

Firstly, it is not possible to list out all the complaints received from the public from time to time, as after investigation the decisions of officials are generally upheld.

Secondly, the number of cases in which the Minister had personally to over-rule or rescind the decisions of officials is 12.

Thirdly, no disciplinary action had been taken against the officials concerned except to advise them to the effect that they could have adopted a less bureaucratic attitude and approach, and that more than just health requirements should have been taken into account when arriving at decisions.

It is admitted that the job of licensing premises is not an easy one, and the Minister has accordingly appointed a Public Health Licensing Board of five members to deal with this problem, of which only one member is an official.