CONSTITUTION (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

2.50 p.m.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a need to increase the membership of the Public Service Commission because of the increased workload placed on the Members of the Commission. The Commission meets weekly. The Members also have to act as chairmen of Selection Boards which deal with the recruitment and promotion of civil servants and, sometimes, employees of statutory boards. A Member may have to attend at least three meetings in a week in his capacity as chairman of a Selection Board. In addition to these duties, each Member may be delegated certain powers to decide on matters relating to the recruitment, confirmation, promotion and disciplinary control of civil servants. These matters take up a lot of time.

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 E. W. Barker].

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