SINGAPORE COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.02 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs (Mr Chan Chee Seng): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The Singapore Council of Social Service (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Parliament on 23rd October, 1974. This Bill, now before the House, seeks to make amendments to the Singapore Council of Social Service Act, 1968, in the light of the experience gained by the Council in administering the Act over the years.

The Council was formally established with the following objectives:

(a) to co-ordinate the voluntary welfare activities in Singapore not only between its member organisations, but also with other organisations;

(b) to maintain and improve standards of voluntary social work and to encourage voluntary welfare efforts in fields not fully covered by Government;

(c) to assist member organisations in their efforts to promote welfare activities in Singapore;

(d) to initiate, assist and organise forms of relief and schemes of social service;

(e) to disseminate information to members of the public and interest them in social welfare matters and to encourage their participation in these matters; and

(f) to make recommendations to Government regarding legislation in the field of social welfare.

In the course of administering the Act to achieve these objectives, the Council has encountered some problems and this is why my Ministry has proposed the amendments in this Bill. I shall now elaborate on these problems.

Past experience shows that many purely religious and non-welfare related organisations have sought affiliation with the Council.

However, the Council's main interest and focus is on welfare and social service. It is therefore proposed that the Singapore Council of Social Service Act be amended to limit purely religious and non-welfare related organisations from seeking affiliation to the Council. Such organisations which seek to carry out welfare and social service activities and wish to affiliate with the Council must establish a separate structure for social and welfare activities and could then seek affiliation in their own right.

Under current legislation, any person, firm, corporation or organisation which subscribes not less than $25 per year may be an associate of the Council. Likewise, any organisation affiliated to the Council must subscribe not less than $10 to the Council. The Council has, among its associates and member organisations, a wide-ranging group of bodies, including many well-known firms and corporations. The present subscription of $25 per annum for associates can be considered negligible. My Ministry therefore proposes an amendment to allow the Council to charge any subscription it thinks fit for associates as well as for member organisations.

There are many people who are interested in welfare work but who, for some personal reason, do not wish to be attached to any particular welfare organisation. Such people should be encouraged, nevertheless, to contribute towards the work of the Council. It is proposed that the Council be empowered to appoint such people as honorary members, in addition to the patrons-in-chief and patrons whom the Council is already authorised to appoint. In this way, more people could contribute actively towards the work of the Council. Such honorary members will, however, be restricted from holding office and voting in the Board of Management of the Council.

As regards the Board of Management, whose members are elected by the Council from among its member organisations and associates or are ex-officio members, there is a provision in the Amendment Bill which stipulates that only those who are confirmed as still being representatives of member organisations can be re-elected to office in the Board. In this way, the Council hopes to ensure that only those who are still actively involved in the work of its various members are allowed to be elected or to hold office on the Board of Management of the Council.

In addition to the Annual General Meeting, the Council also holds two general meetings each year. This is specified in the Singapore Council of Social Service Act. However, administratively the Council is now able to work much more closely with members and keep them informed on developments through the various committees set up to service members as well as other channels of communication such as circulars, news bulletin, etc. Therefore, there is no further need to have two general meetings a year. This is why it is proposed that the frequency of general meetings be reduced to just once a year (excluding the Annual General Meeting) in order to encourage greater participation on the committee level which is a much more effective means of relating and involving members to come together to further the objects of the Council.

It is also proposed that the Council be vested with the power to make its own regulations concerning procedural matters on application for and withdrawal of membership in the Council, the conduct of general meetings and the submission of reports and returns by member organisations. It is felt that the Council should have these powers in order to be more effective as the co-ordinating body for voluntary welfare activities in Singapore. It also keeps the public and community informed on current trends and developments among its member organisations and the welfare community in general. The regulations which the Council intends to make are subject to the approval of the Minister for Social Affairs.

Finally, to remove doubt as to whether the Council is authorised to accept gifts and procure contributions not only to the Singapore Council of Social Service Fund but to establish and administer trust funds, it is proposed to amend the Act to enable the Council to administer such trusts. From time to time, the Council has been approached by Foundations and Trusts to hold monies in trust but because of the uncertainty regarding its power in this matter, the Council has been unable to act on these offers.

In view of the need to maintain the spirit of voluntary social work among Singaporeans, it is necessary to provide the Council with an effective framework for the achievement of its objectives. Hence, the need to enact this amendment to the Singapore Council of Social Service Act.

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 Chan Chee Seng].

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Clauses 1 to 4 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 5-

Amendments made:

In page 2, line 15, to leave out "to". - [Mr Chan Chee Seng].

In page 2, line 17, to leave out "to". - [Mr Chan Chee Seng].

In page 2, line 22, to leave out "to". - [Mr Chan Chee Seng].

Clause 5, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 6 to 10 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported with amendments; read a Third time and passed.