CIVIL LIST

2.41 p.m.

The Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That this Parliament, pursuant to section 7 of the Civil List and Pension Act (Chapter 52), resolves that the Schedule to the said Act be varied by deleting the figures "$48,000". "$508,620", "$108,680" and "523,000" appearing in the second column thereof and substituting therefor the figures "$52,000", "$594,010", "$135,270" and "$91,000" respectively.

The provision approved under the Civil List is insufficient to meet increasing expenses, such as the non-pensionable annual allowance for staff, revised wages of daily-rated employees and increasing cost of household requisites. Also, provision has to be made for the purchase of chairs and tables, silver ware and crockery for official use at the Istana. Hiring of such items has proved to be unsatisfactory. It is, therefore, necessary to augment the provision for the Privy Purse from $48,000 to $52,000; the provisions for Salaries to Personal Staff from $508,620 to $594,010; the provision for Expenses of Household from $108,680 to $135,270 and the provision for Special Services from $23,000 to $91,000.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament, pursuant to section 7 of the Civil List and Pension Act (Chapter 52), resolves that the Schedule to the said Act be varied by deleting the figures "$48,000", "$508,620", "$108,680" and "$23,000" appearing in the second column thereof and substituting therefor the figures "$52,000", "$594,010". "$135,270" and "$91,000" respectively.