NATIONAL STATISTICAL COMMISSION OF SINGAPORE (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.02 p.m.

The Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill seeks to amend the National Statistical Commission of Singapore Act, 1971, to provide for:-

(i) the preparation of the Annual Report of the Commission on a financial year basis;

(ii) the formal appointment of the Auditor-General to audit the Commission's accounts; and

(iii) exemption of the National Statistical Commission's budget from gazetting.

An amendment was made in 1972, to provide for the financial year of the National Statistical Commission, to be brought in line with the Government's financial year. The accounts for the Commission have since then been prepared on a financial year basis, ending 31st March. However, the Annual Report of the Commission required under the Act, is still being prepared on a calendar year basis. Clauses 3 and 5 of the Bill would provide for the Commission's Annual Report to be prepared on a financial year basis, enabling the Commission to present its accounts and its Annual Report together to Parliament. In view of the adjustment, the 1976 Annual Report will cover 31st March, 1977.

In accordance with the policy to improve the accountability of public funds in Statutory Boards, the Auditor-General has been auditing the accounts of the National Statistical Commission since its inception in 1972. To formalise the arrangements, the necessary provisions have been incorporated in clause 4 of the Bill.

With the merger of the National Statistical Commission with the Statistics Department on 1st April 1976, control of the Commission's expenditure has been delegated to the Statistics Department. Funds previously under the control of the Commission have reverted to Government. In view of this change, clause 2 of the Bill provides for exemption of the Commission's budget from gazetting.

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 Hon Sui Sen].

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