FIRST SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1978 TO 31ST MARCH, 1979 (Paper Cmd. 3 of 1979)

Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [Allotted Day].

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

3.28 p.m.

The Chairman: The First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1978 to 31st March, 1979, contained in Paper Cmd. 3 of 1979.

Head G -

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head G be reduced by $10 in respect of item (a) of Object Group 3310 of Subhead GA-02.

Sir, last year on 27th February, 1978, I raised several points concerning accidents involving Government vehicles, for which an additional sum of $30,210 had to be sought for under the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1st April, 1977 to 31st March, 1978, contained in Paper Command 1 of 1978.

The Hon. Minister-in-charge had given figures on the number of accidents and Government vehicles involved as well as the disclosure that "thirty-two departments were involved.". This is contained in Hansard, Vol. 37, No. 7, col. 395. He also pointed out that "a sum of $200,000 was originally voted for this item for expenditure on accidents involving Government vehicles." The sum did not, of course, cover repairs to Government vehicles. I sought an assurance that "accidents involving Government vehicles be kept to a minimum." But as the Hon. Minister pointed out, "I cannot speak for the other departments concerned." He went on to state further "that the majority of the accidents comes from the Armed Forces and the number of Government vehicles has been increasing over the years. So has the number of accidents."

To-day, Sir, this House is again asked to approve a sum of $168,180 and according to the explanatory note "The need .... is because of the payment of compensation for damages arising from the increase in the number and seriousness of cases involving Government negligence...." This sum now sought for represents more than a 55% increase over the vote of $300,000 approved last year, FY 78. As for FY 79 some $400,000 will be sought for.

Sir, I would like to draw the attention of the House to two words in the statement "seriousness" and "negligence". In short, I believe this House should be alarmed at this frank and honest disclosure.

But, Sir, I would like to ask what is being done to curb or reduce the number of accidents involving Government vehicles. Are the Government departments made aware of this aspect? To me, the campaign mounted last year by the Traffic Police on "Road Safety" appears to have fallen on deaf ears! Therefore, I would like to reiterate that something should be done. If the number of accidents involved comes mainly from the Armed Forces, then the Hon. Minister-in-charge should look into this. The heavy vehicles of the Armed Forces and others too of the various Government departments are "monsters" on the road. Those driving them should exercise more caution and consideration to small vehicles on the roods.

Sir, I would like the Hon. Minister to state how many accidents involving Government vehicles were involved in the current fiscal year, FY 78; how many fatalities were there, and what steps are being taken or will be taken to reduce the number of accidents? Also, would the Hon. Minister, although he is in charge of the Attorney-General's Chambers which represent the Government in all accidents and claims against accidents involving Government vehicles, kindly notify his fellow Ministers on this as he had earlier stated that he cannot speak for them, I am sure this can be done, but if it is not possible then I would suggest that each Ministry make provision for this item and face the queries instead.

The Minister for Law and Science and Technology (Mr E.W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am afraid the note to the Supplementary Estimates is a bit misleading, at least the first part which states:

'The need for supplementary provision under the above object group is because of the payment of compensation for damages arising from the increase in the number and seriousness of cases involving Government negligence ...'.

In fact, the number of accidents involving Government vehicles last year has gone down when compared to the figure for 1977. But the amount of compensation. has increased because of inflation and the higher cost of repairs to motor vehicles.

The figures on the number of accidents involving vehicles for the last four years are as follows: 1975 1,545; 1976 a drop to 1,373; 1977 an increase to 1,819; and 1978 a decrease to 1,784.

As I pointed out previously to the hon. Member for Punggol, criminal proceedings are taken against the drivers of vehicles, whether Government or outside the Government. But in addition, Government drivers are subject to disciplinary proceedings which are taken by the departments concerned in appropriate cases.

As for the number of accidents for the various departments, I have a list here but I do not think it would be appropriate for me to read it out in detail. Of the 405 accidents for the period 1st April 1978 to 28th February 1979, the Ministry of Defence was concerned in 291 cases; the Ministry of the Environment 50; the Police 33, and the rest (whether it was the Fire Brigade or the Public Works Department) were all less than 10.

The fact that the Ministry of Defence has the largest number of accidents does not mean that our Army drivers are just no good. It is because the Ministry of Defence has the largest number of vehicles in Singapore. I am afraid I cannot tell him the number. It is not top secret but it is a secret. If he is not satisfied with this answer, I would suggest that he pose a question to the Minister in Charge on some other occasion.

As for the Ministry of the Environment, I have relinquished my duties there and I would again suggest that he take it up with the Minister concerned.

As for the dollars and cents that we are asking for, Sir, during the period which I mentioned (1st April 1978 to 28th February 1979), the Attorney-General's Chambers dealt with and reached settlement in respect of 499 accidents. Of these accidents involving Government vehicles, claims in respect of 405 accidents have been settled and we paid out a total sum of $359,981.96. Agreement has been reached in respect of the claims for the remaining 94 accidents but payments totalling $168,180 have yet to be made. Hence the requirement of the supplementary vote for this sum.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I am not thoroughly satisfied and convinced with the answers given by the Hon. Minister. He gave the figures for the four years from 1975 to 1978. I would just like to make a quick subtraction of the figures compared, 1977 against 1978. In 1977, the Minister gave the figure of the number of accidents as 1,819 against a slight drop to 1,784 in 1978. In real numbers, there is only a decrease of 35, i.e. less than 20%. But in the previous reply, the Hon. Minister indicated that this sum did not include repairs. Today he has explained that this includes repairs. And also the increase in compensation was due to inflation. Sir, I was just wondering how high is our rate of inflation in terms of compensation given.

An hon. Member: 4.8%.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, my Backbench colleague says 4.8%. I am not an economist. I do not really know how this figure can really be inflated.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Lawyers cost more!

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Lawyers cost more, as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education has pointed out. I must thank him.

Sir, Mindef was concerned in 291 accidents and it has the largest number of vehicles. The number is supposed to be secret; how secret it is I do not know. Mindef being the Ministry with the largest number of vehicles, most of which I have described as monsters on the road, these 291 accidents ought to bring home one point. Our roads are not that wide and not that straight. And there are also other road users.

The Ministry of the Environment was concerned in 50 accidents. The Minister has suggested that I direct my question to his successor, the new Minister for the Environment. On Mindef he has asked me to direct my questions to the Minister of Defence. Sir, I can merely say that the buck has to stop somewhere. I well understand that the Attorney-General's Chambers looks after all these claims. But somebody must provide satisfactory answers to my questions.

Sir, unless I get satisfactory answers, I am not going to withdraw my amendment. [Applause.]

Mr Barker: Sir, we seem to be speaking at cross purposes. May I remind the hon. Member that his notice of amendment to cut $10 is merely confined to Subhead GA-02 in respect of item (a) Accidents involving Government vehicles. If you look at the Supplementary Estimates, the second part is item (c) Legal fees, claims and costs for all departments. Last year the Member spoke on all these. This year his amendment is confined merely to the first part which deals with the accidents. Hence, I have said nothing about legal fees, claims and compensation. But let me assure him that we are not passing the buck. We Ministers work together.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Good. I am glad to hear that.

Mr Barker: I have suggested that the Member directs his questions to the Ministers concerned. If he does that, I am sure he will get better answers than I can give him.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not wish to split hairs or speak at cross purposes. May I read out the explanatory statement? It says:

'The need for supplementary provision under the above object group is because of the payment of compensation for damages arising from the increase in the number and seriousness of cases involving Government negligence and because of unforeseen expenditure incurred in London in respect of extradition proceedings.'

Sir, there are two sums sought for. (a) Accidents involving Government vehicles. . . . . . . . . . $168,180 (b) Legal fees, claims and costs for all departments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $277,390 ________ Total to be voted. . . . . . . . . $445,570 ________

I think I can well understand the meaning and explanation given. But I do not think I am speaking at cross purposes with the Hon. Minister concerned.

An hon. Member: Crossing swords!

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Neither am I crossing swords because if I give him more thrusts I get more cuts in return.

On that note, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $445,570 for Head G ordered to stand part of the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1978 to 31st March, 1979.

Question, "That the sum of $445,570 shall be supplied to the Government under the head of expenditure for the public services shown in the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1978 to 31st March, 1979 contained in Paper Cmd. 3 of 1979", put and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported.

Thereupon Mr Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House

The Senior Minister of State for Finance (Mr Goh Chok Tong): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply have come to a certain resolution.

Resolution reported -

"That the sum of $445,570 shall be supplied to the Government under the head of expenditure for the public services shown in the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1978 to 31st March, 1979 contained in Paper Cmd. 3 of 1979."

Mr Goh Chok Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that Parliament doth agree with the Committee on the said resolution.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolution accordingly agreed to.