EXIT PERMITS FOR RESERVISTS

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Ivan Baptist asked the Minister of Defence whether he will consider making it less inconvenient for those who apply for exit permits after they had loyally completed their National Service.

The Minister of State of Defence (Mr Bernard Chen) (for the Minister of Defence): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to assure the hon. Member that my Ministry is always striving to reduce inconvenience to the minimum for those who have dealings with it.

Each month, an average of 3,800 reservists apply for exit permits. They have to be present at the office in person because they have to produce their reservist certificates for checks to be made on certain details as to the timing of their in-camp training. Exit permits are issued to them on the spot after this check. Reservists who have to travel frequently in and out of Singapore on business are given multiple trip exit permits so that they need not apply for an exit permit for every trip.

Until last month, the average waiting time for reservists on official business at the Exit Permit Office was about an hour. A recent reorganisation of the office resulted in a better flow of work, and the waiting time reduced to half an hour.

At present, checks on personal records are done manually. As the number of personal files of reservists is large, fast approaching 100,000, extracting details from these files and matching them with liability for in-camp training is quite a laborious process.

To achieve instant retrieval of information, it is necessary to store data in computer discs. The Finance Ministry has recently agreed to MINDEF's proposal to store such data in the Finance Ministry's computers with on-line terminals at various manpower departments in MINDEF. This will considerably speed up the work of processing applications from reservists.

When this on-line facility comes into operation, MINDEF will review the necessity of requiring reservists to attend in person at the Exit Permit Office. If found feasible, this will further reduce the time needed for the reservists to get the exit permits.

Mr Ivan Baptist (Potong Pasir): Mr Speaker, Sir, a supplementary question. Could the period of time be extended from six months to, say, a year, so that more valid time will be allowed for those who have applied for exit permits? If not, why not?

Mr Bernard Chen: Sir, under current practice, exit permits are, in fact, valid up to one year but the duration of the exit permit will depend on the validity of the passport issued. Currently, passports are normally issued for six-monthly intervals but in cases where students are proceeding abroad for studies, exit permits are given up to four years.