PUBLIC UTILITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read. 3.45 p.m.

The Minister for Trade and Industry (Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The Public Utilities Act was last amended in 1978. The present Bill seeks to amend the Act to give the Board flexibility in changing the designation of its departmental heads, to increase the penalties prescribed for offences under the Act, and to update and tidy up the Act.

The present Bill proposes to amend section 13 of the principal Act to empower the Board to change the designation of the departmental heads of Chief Financial Officer, Chief Electrical Engineer, Chief Water Engineer and Chief Gas Engineer. These existing titles imply that only persons with the respective professional qualifications can head the departments. At this level, however, managerial and leadership qualities are as important as professional qualifications. The proposed amendments will enable the Board to change the designations of heads of departments to suit organizational needs. This flexibility will enhance the development of management personnel in the PUB.

The present Bill also seeks to increase the penalties for offences under the Act. Such offences include illegal tapping of electricity, gas or water, and tampering or damaging the Board's property, including electrical cables and meters, water pipes and gas mains. These offences have caused interruption to supplies and considerable inconvenience to the public. As the penalties were last reviewed in 1974, they are no longer a deterrent. The proposed maximum penalties are generally in line with those of other statutory boards. There are other minor amendments for the purpose of updating and tidying up several provisions in the Act. These are detailed in the Explanatory Statement to the Bill.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam).

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.