DESTRUCTION OF DISEASE-BEARING INSECTS (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

5.22 p.m.

The Minister of State for the Environment (Mr Wee Toon Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the Bill before the House is based on the existing Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act (Chapter 152, 1970 Edition). Consequent to the difficulties and problems encountered in the application and administration of the Act during the last two years, the need has arisen to amplify the Act to ensure better control of disease-bearing insects through more effective enforcement action.

One major problem encountered relates to difficulties in obtaining the names, addresses, proof of identity and other relevant particulars of occupiers and owners of premises. This defect has hindered the issue of orders and summonses considerably. Specific powers are now included in the Bill to facilitate officers to obtain such information of any offender or suspect and to arrest such person without warrant if he declines to supply the required particulars.

A device of "ticketing" is to be introduced in respect of offences committed under the Act to empower officers to serve on offenders notices to attend at the Court described, at a specified date and time, so that the Court may take cognizance of the offences. The purpose of this provision is to enable more expeditious and effective enforcement of the Act.

A presumption clause has now been introduced which will have the effect of fixing on the owner or occupier the responsibility for any premises conducive to the propagation of disease-bearing insects, unless the contrary is proved.

The term "disease-bearing insect" is now re-defined to include every specie of mosquitoes and house flies. This enables many potential insect vectors to come under control and prevention.

Under the present provision, a medical officer is required to appear in Court for the purpose of giving evidence to prove that a particular mosquito or insect is, in fact, a disease-bearing insect. In order to eliminate this time-consuming procedure, a provision is made in the Bill whereby reports signed by any Medical Officer of Health, Government Entomologist or Public Health Engineer concerning any matter or thing submitted for examination, analysis or report are admissible in Court as constituting prima facie evidence.

The other minor amendments to the Bill serve to specify and define more explicitly the existing powers of the Act.

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 Wee Toon Boon].

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