NATIONAL STATISTICAL COMMISSION OF SINGAPORE (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

5.30 p.m.

The Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the financial year of the National Statistical Commission of Singapore under the law is the calendar year, whereas the financial year of the Government is the period of 12 months from the 1st day of April to the 31st day of March in each year. However, as the Commission is wholly dependent on Government funds for its operation, having the same financial year would facilitate its financial estimating and control. It is necessary, now, to make provision through clauses 2, 3 and 4 of the National Statistical Commission of Singapore (Amendment) Bill, 1972, to enable the Commission to adopt as its financial year a period of 12 months ending on the 31st day of March in each year and to prepare its accounts accordingly. There is a transitional provision for the Commission's financial year in 1972 to be the period between the 7th day of January 1972 and the 31st day of March 1973, the 7th day of January 1972 being the day of coming into operation of the National Statistical Commission of Singapore.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Mr Hon Sui Sen].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.