STATUTES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL

Order for Second Reading read. 4.09 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."

Sir, in the Estate Duty (Amendment) Bill which has now been passed by the House, certain amendments were made to the Estate Duty Act to exempt from duty bequests made to certain institutions. These exemptions were previously conferred on the institutions in the relevant Acts relating to these institutions. It is now considered more appropriate that any exemptions from duty should be covered by the Act relating to such duty. Accordingly this Bill seeks to delete the provisions in the separate Acts, since the exemptions are now given in the Estate Duty 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 Hon Sui Sen]

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