GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES (Control)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Finance (a) whether the Government has direct or any control over enterprises such as Radio and Television Singapore Enterprises (Pte.) Limited, Chartered Industries of Singapore Limited, Intraco and other similar enterprises wholly owned by the Government; and (b) how many civil servants are administering those enterprises, and how are they paid and from what sources.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: (a) Since Government is the sole owner of these enterprises, it has full control over them. The Government, however, does not exercise control in detail in the day-to-day affairs of these enterprises. Such matters are left to the management of the enterprise. Government's control is exercised over policy through the Board of Directors. These are appointed by the Government and, in the main, they consist of civil servants.

(b) Civil servants, i.e. employees in the Government Service, are not responsible for the administration of these enterprises, as they are not members of the management team, unless specifically seconded to these enterprises. Such secondment occurs rarely, and, when they do, they are on usual terms governing conditions of secondment.