LAW REFORM (ENFORCEMENT OF CONTRACTS) ACT, 1954, OF UNITED KINGDOM (Introduction of similar legislation in Singapore)

The following Question stood in the name of Mr P. Selvadurai ---

Mr P. Selvadurai: To ask the Minister for Law and National Development if he will consider introducing legislation similar to the Law Reform (Enforcement of Contracts) Act, 1954, of the United Kingdom which amended section 4 of the Statute of Frauds 1677.

Mr Speaker: Mr Selvadurai.

Mr Conceicao: Question No. 13.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Law Revision Commissioners responsible for the present Revised Edition of the Laws of the State of Singapore must have fully considered the amendment to section 4 of the Statute of Frauds 1677 brought about by the United Kingdom Law Reform (Enforcement of Contracts) Act, 1954, and for good reason thought fit to retain the law prior to the Amendment Act of 1954 in so far as Singapore is concerned when our own Civil Law Ordinance (Chapter 24) was reenacted. However, as there is considerable disagreement in regard to the scope and extent of section 5 of the Civil Law Ordinance, perhaps a case exists for our law to be amended on the lines of the United Kingdom Act of 1954.

In so far as the Law Reform (Enforcement of Contracts) Act, 1954, affects the Sale of Goods Act of 1893, the matter has been set beyond doubt as we have seen fit not to extend the effect of that amendment here. Section 5A of our Civil Law Ordinance, added by Ordinance 23 of 1955, re-enacts section 4 of the Sale of Goods Act, 1893, in so far as it applies to Singapore, thus preserving the rule which necessitates a contract of sale of goods of $100 and upwards in value to be evidenced in writing before it can become enforceable. At this stage, Sir, I can only assure the Member for Bukit Panjang that consideration is being given to the desirability of incorporating the amendments brought about by the United Kingdom Act of 1954 by the Law Revision Committee which is presently working on a comprehensive revision of all the laws in Singapore.