PARKING PLACES (SURCHARGE) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

The Minister of State for National Development (Dr Tan Eng Liang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

As part of the scheme to restrain non-essential usage of private cars in the Central Business District, it is necessary to increase parking charges in public and private car parks. This Bill seeks to impose a surcharge on parking places in designated areas.

The Minister is empowered to designate areas or places by order in the Gazette and to impose a surcharge on parking places in the designated areas (clause 3). Different rates may be imposed in different designated areas, and the rates may be based on the number of parking lots or on other basis. The surcharge collected shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund (clause 6).

The Bill does not apply to parking places used exclusively in connection with any private dwelling houses (clause 8). The usual penalties, exemption and rule-making powers are provided for in the Bill.

Members may wish to know that the area to be designated will be the present Restricted Zone. For the purpose of the surcharge, a Core Area within the Restricted Zone will also be designated. This Core Area roughly covers the heart of the Central Business District and will be more accurately described in the Order to be made when the Bill is passed by Parliament and brought into force. I can also inform Members of the House that the rates of surcharge will be $20 per parking lot per month in the Core Area and $10 per parking lot per month in the rest of the Restricted Zone as recommended by the Road Transport Action Committee. The surcharge will apply to all car parks in the designated area including Urban Redevelopment Authority car parks. Designated areas and the rates of surcharge may be varied from time to time to achieve the desired traffic restraint objectives and policies.

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.-[Dr Tan Eng Liang].

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