GOVERNMENT OFFICERS ON SECONDMENT OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT SERVICE (Effect on career in Civil Service)

The following Question stood in the name of Mr Ho See Beng -

Mr Ho See Beng: To ask the Minister for Finance whether he will state categorically that no Government officer's career in the Civil Service will be adversely affected merely by reason of his secondment for service outside the Government Service.

Mr Speaker: Mr Ho See Beng.

Mr Lingam: Question No. 5.

Mr Ramaswamy (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, I can assure the hon. Member that an officer's career in the civil service will not be adversely affected by reason of his secondment for service outside the Government service itself. I have explained, in answer to the hon. Member's previous question, how this can be adversely affected if the secondment is not properly worked out.

Mr Tang See Chim: Sir, in answer to Question No. 4, the Parliamentary Secretary did say that in practice it might not work out. Could he please give us details as to what safeguards there are to ensure that the interests of seconded officers are not jeopardised?

Mr Ramaswamy: I said in my answer that the precaution is that the officer who is due for promotion or confirmation is not seconded for more than one year.