SALARY OF SPEAKER

4.22 p.m.

The Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology (Mr E.W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion* standing in my name as it appears on the Order Paper.

*The motion reads as follows:

That pursuant to Article 25 of the Constitution of Singapore, the salary of the Speaker shall be $6,500 per month for the period 1st March, 1973 to 31st October, 1977 and $9,370 per month with effect from 1st November, 1977.

Sir, Article 25 of the Constitution provides, inter alia, that the Speaker shall be paid such salary as Parliament may from time to time determine. The salary of the Speaker was last determined by Parliament at $3,000 per month with effect from 8th December 1965 by a resolution passed on 13th December 1965.

On 16th February 1973 the Minister for Finance made a statement in Parliament relating to the revision of salaries for officers in the public service. The Minister stated then that the salary of the Speaker was to be revised to $6,500 per month with effect from 1st March 1973. No approval of Parliament was, however, sought to revise the salary of the Speaker accordingly.

With the consolidation of the salaries of officers in the public service by the incorporation of the National Wages Council allowances for 1973-77 into the salary scales with effect from 1st November 1977, it is now proposed that the salary of the Speaker be revised to $9,370 per month, based on the pre-consolidated salary of $6,500 per month, with effect from 1st November, 1977.

Members are, however, aware that the present Speaker has only drawn about half the salary of the Speaker and will continue to do so as long as he does not devote all his time to the office of Speaker.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That pursuant to Article 25 of the Constitution of Singapore, the salary of the Speaker shall be $6,500 per month for the period 1st March, 1973 to 31st October, 1977 and $9,370 per month with effect from 1st November, 1977.