FIRST SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1979 TO 31ST MARCH, 1980 (Paper Cmd. 3 of 1980)

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

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

2.45 p.m.

The Chairman: First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1979 to 31st March, 1980 contained in Paper Cmd. 3 of 1980.

Head F -

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

That the sum to be allocated for head F be reduced by the whole sum in respect of Object of Expenditure FA 03-3317(c).

Sir, with your permission, may I range my remarks over amendment (2) so that I need not move the amendment?

The Chairman: Yes.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Thank you, Sir. The explanatory note simply states:

"The supplementary provision is required because of the enhanced terms of the ASEAN Pre-University Scholarship and Merit Scholarship/Bursary Schemes."

A further sum of $84,500 is required to meet the scholarships, fellowships and training courses for students in local institutions of higher learning. In this respect, Sir, I would like to enquire of the Hon. Minister concerned as to the number of scholarships, fellowships and training courses that have been awarded for the financial year 1979-80 and what are the disciplines. I would like to believe that, with enhanced terms, the brighter students would be more attracted to apply for such scholarships. Also, what are the criteria and whether the standard has been further raised? Are we getting more of the brighter students to opt for studies in the humanities?

Sir, sometime ago, mention was made that the scholars preferred engineering and science courses to the humanities which were ultimately taken up by the less brighter students. I hope that the brighter students would not think of their own job security and prospects in the pursuit of higher studies by making a bee-line for the more preferred courses. This would be selfish thinking if at all they could at the end of their successful tertiary studies settle down to a comfortable job. We should encourage a greater spread of talent which is quite limited in such a small country like ours and which is still develop- ing. I would like to remind them that the future is entirely in their own hands and it is left to them to make out what they want it to be.

Sir, on the question of bursaries, I am glad to note that the additional sum of $215,700 is further required. This augurs well as the Government has always been helping the needy, those who are bright enough but are unable to pursue higher education due to financial hardship. I would like to urge that more bursaries be given to this lot of students. I would therefore seek information as to the number and type of bursaries awarded; better still if comparative figures covering the last three years could be given, Sir, I am of the view that those given bursaries would appreciate the opportunities given to them to enable them to pursue tertiary studies and thus would contribute more to the country. They would also help to contribute to form a bigger pool of manpower resources for leadership tapping.

Finally, Sir, I would like to know the number of ASEAN Pre-University scholarships that have been awarded and whether such scholarships, apart from others, for tertiary education are being given. If so, what are the courses and how many have been given so far? We have done pretty well in many areas and we can more than promote the spirit of ASEAN solidarity if we impart our expertise to them, say, in the fields of low-cost housing and port facilities.

The Minister for the Environment (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, first, may I clarify two points made by the hon. Member for Punggol. The enhanced terms of the scholarships and bursaries are not to attract more candidates. They are primarily given in order to offset increases in cost and inflation. It is our aim to provide adequate funds for the essential needs of scholars so that with increasing cost and inflation, they need not spend their energy and time.in looking for other sources of income in order to meet rising costs.

Secondly, Mr Speaker, Sir, the award of merit scholarships is not based on the financial needs of the applicants. They are based on scholastic achievement, on an assessment of their leadership qualities and of their future potential. However, those who are unsuccessful in getting a scholarship can get financial assistance by applying for interestfree study loan. The amount of loan given will depend upon the financial needs of the applicants.

Sir, I think we all agree that during the last few years because of the emphasis on science and technology and technical education, there has been a rush to study engineering, medicine and the other sciences by the brighter students and very few of them join the art stream. However, Mr Speaker, Sir, having found the imbalance in the spread of talent brought about by the emphasis on science and technology, the education system is now revamped. Students will be given a broad-based education with equal emphasis on science and the humanities and it is hoped that in future more bright students will be taking the humanities. Meanwhile, science students who do well in Art subjects at the 'O' level will be encouraged to continue with these subjects at the 'A' level. By the award of scholarships, if they perform well in Art subjects at the 'A' level, they will be given a Merit Scholarship to study the humanities in Oxford, Cambridge and other universities.

On the point made by the Member for Punggol regarding the provision of training for our ASEAN neighbours, I would like to inform the House that the scheme of giving awards to students from our ASEAN neighbours was started in 1972 and is administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since then, there has been a seven-fold increase in both courses and awards. In 1972, when the scheme was first started, Singapore offered a total of 13 courses and 41 places. For the financial year 1979-80, we will be offering 87 courses with 286 places. This is almost a seven-fold increase. As for the details of the courses offered, they are given in a book entitled ASEAN Training Awards 1979-80 issued by the Office of the Director-General, ASEAN, Singapore, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This book is, of course, circulated to all ASEAN countries. For information, some of the courses offered are in airport service management, family planning, industrial training, planning and maintenance of industrial estates, port activities and some other fields in which we have some expertise.

The hon. Member for Punggol asked for certain details. I am afraid, Mr Speaker, Sir, that I do not carry some of these details in my head nor is it possible for me to remember all of them. But I will supply him with details on the number of scholarships and bursaries offered in 1979. In 1979, a total of 438 merit scholarships and bursaries were offered. Merit Scholar- Merit Courses ships Bursaries Medicine/ Dentistry 44 41 Engineering 28 22 Architecture/ Building/ Estate Management 6 18 Accountancy/ Business Administration 9 14 Arts/Social Science/Law 32 40 Science (includes Pharmacy) 82 102 ___ ___ 201 237 === ===

Sir, I believe the hon. Member also asked for the figure of the ASEAN pre-university scholarships. For 1979, 63 were offered and 48 accepted. If the hon. Member wants further details, he can put in a Question for Oral Answer.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I would be much obliged if the Hon. Minister for the Environment could supply the House with such information.

Since the Minister has given the assurance, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $399,200 for Head F ordered to stand part of the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1979 to 31st March, 1980.

Head J -

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head J be reduced by the whole sum in respect of Object of Expenditure JB 01-3111,

Sir, I would like to ask your permission to range my remarks over the other three amendments standing in my name so that I need not move them.

The Chairman: Yes.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Thank you very much, Sir. I have just a simple question to ask of the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education that apart from the supplementary expenditure required to meet the increased expenditure arising from the payment of the 1979 National Wages Council awards and higher CPF contributions for staff, have there been other forms of supplementary grants made to the Government-aided schools and junior colleges? If so, may the House be informed what they are? 3.00 p.m.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam): Sir, the supplementary grants requested today are entirely for the purpose of meeting additional expenditure arising from the payment of the 1979 National Wages Council awards and higher CPF contributions for the staff of aided primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges and the University of Singapore.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, what is the percentage of this increase against the total amount budgeted for last year? According to my calculation, it is more than 10%.

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam: Sir, the figures are as follows.

Under Subhead JB 01-3111 which is in respect of grants-in-aid to Government-aided primary schools, the amount originally budgeted for was $55.9 million. The amount requested for today is $6.5 million, which is approximately 11.6% of the original amount.

Under Subhead JB 02-3111 which is in respect of grants-in-aid to secondary schools, the original amount is $43.3 million and the additional amount is $4.6 million or 10.6%.

Under Subhead JB 03-3111, Junior Colleges, the original amount is $7.4 million and the additional amount is approximately $2.25 million or 27%.

Under Subhead JC 01-3111 which is a grant to the University of Singapore, the original amount is $45.4 million and the additional amount is $1.1 million or approximately 2.4%.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for Education for his kind reply, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $21,374,000 for Head J ordered to stand part of the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1979 to 31st March, 1980.

Head N -

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head N be reduced by the whole sum in respect of Object of Expenditure NC 03-2141.

Sir, with your permission, I would also like to range my remarks over amendment (2), standing in my name.

The Chairman: All right.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Thank you, Sir. In moving this amendment, I merely wish to seek further elucidation from the Minister concerned as to the need for supplementary provision of some $760,000, although the reason given is "the higher costs of public utilities, fuel and lubricants." My question is, why was this not foreseen? Is the sum needed for the entire Ministry? If this is the case, other Ministries could likewise incur additional expenditure but this is not indicated in the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure (Paper Cmd. 3 of 1980). It is because there are no contingencies, such as virements, in the Ministry of the Environment which, as I understand it, some other Ministries have?

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, it is the practice of my Ministry not to over-budget. This is to force Heads of Departments to maximise the use of resources such as manpower, energy, and other scarce resources. This is part of our "Save Energy" campaign. As a result of tight budgeting, the Ministry of the Environment spent over 90% of its budgeted expenditure. Therefore, if there should be any excess expenditure on other heads due to unforeseen circumstances we will never have enough to vire. That is why we are unable to vire sufficiently to meet the excess expenditure under these two heads.

I must say that in our zeal to enforce tight-budgeting, my officers did overlook the fact that, with the then prevailing situation in the Middle-East, there was a likelihood that prices of oil would escalate. But as I said, because of our tight-budgeting, it is not possible to vire all our requirements. The price of diesel for the year 1979 increased by 48%. We have a margin of only about 8% on our budgeted expenditure. The price of utilities went up by 35%. That is why we have to come to the House for supplementary provisions. I hope the explanation satisfies the Member for Punggol.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Whilst I am quite satisfied with the answer given by the Minister for the Environment, I would also like to draw the attention of the Minister for Trade and Industry to the kind of tight budgetary control that the Minister for the Environment has over his Ministry, thereby increasing productivity and wise spending of public funds. On that note, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $3,948,000 for Head N ordered to stand part of the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1979 to 31st March, 1980.

Question, "That the sum of $25,721,200 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure for the public services shown in the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1979 to 31st March,1980 contained in Paper Cmd. 3 of 1980", 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 Minister for Trade and Industry (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 $25,721,200 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure for the public services shown in the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1979 to 31st March, 1980 contained in Paper Cmd. 3 of 1980."

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.