EXPENDITURE ON MANPOWER (1980-82)

Dr Toh Chin Chye asked the Minister for Finance if he will give the expenditure on manpower for each of the grades Superscale, Divisions I, II, III, IV and Others for each of the years 1980, 1981 and 1982.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, the expenditure on manpower for each of the grades Superscale, Divisions I, II, III, IV and Others for each of the years 1980, 1981 and 1982 is given in a table (Cols. 431 - 432), copies of which I have handed over to the Clerk of Parliament for distribution to the Member for Rochore and to other Members. table - EXPENDITURE ON MANPOWER IN THE CIVIL SERVICE 1980-1982 (Cols. 431 - 432)

The hon. Member for Rochore will note that the total expenditure on manpower for all these grades was about $879.0 million for 1980, $992.2 million for 1981 and $1,238.7 million for 1982.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Mr Speaker, Sir, I agree to the necessity that Singapore should have a competent Civil Service. But what puzzles me is this, In 1980 the Consumer Price Index was 8.5% increase over the previous year but expenditure on manpower was 12.6%. In 1981, the Consumer Price Index was 8.2% increase over the previous year but expenditure on manpower was 13.3%. In 1982 the Consumer Price Index fell down to 3.9% but expenditure on manpower increased to 26.7%. 1 am a little puzzled at the inverse relationship between the Consumer Price Index and expenditure on manpower. Can the Minister please clarify?

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, I am not quite sure that I can agree with the figures which he has given. My figures show that the manpower expenditure increase was 12.9% for 1981 over 1980, and 24.8% for 1982 over 1981. I think the increase in 1982 expenditure was due mainly to the salary revision which was made in 1982 and, therefore, I do not think there is any connection with the Consumer Price Index.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Sir, my figures have been abstracted from the Economic Sur vey of Singapore, 1982. I presume they must be accurate for public consumption.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: If they came from the Economic Survey, I expect that they are accurate for the figures which they have produced. But the table which I have given includes also the 13th month salaries, Government's CPF contributions and Skills Development Fund which may not be in the figures which make up those in the Economic Survey.