GOVERNMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS (Update)

Dr Wong Kwei Cheong asked the Minister for Trade and Industry if he will give an update of the rules and regulations that have been eased by various Government ministries and departments as a result of work done by the recently formed Business Enterprise Committee.

The Minister for Trade and Industry (BG Lee Hsien Loong): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, between 24th January and 19th November 1986, the Business Enterprise Committee (BEC) reviewed 216 rules and regulations which were administered by 10 ministries. These reviews arose from appeals sent to the BEC by trade associations, property developers, private companies and private individuals.

As a result of these reviews, half these rules and regulations were either removed or amended and made more flexible. The changes have benefitted the private sector by:

1 Increasing the flexibility of operations;

2 Reducing business expenses;

3 Removing redundant controls;

4 Eliminating unnecessary documentation procedures; and

5 Streamlining and simplifying essential rules and regulations.

The BEC released its first progress report on 24th June 1986. The second progress report which contains a fuller account of the appeals and studies carried out by the BEC will be released shortly.