CIVIL LIST

The Minister for Finance (Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion* standing in my name under item 2 on the Order Paper.

*The motion reads as follows:

That this Parliament, pursuant to section 7 of the Civil List and Pension Act (Chapter 44) resolves that the Schedule to that Act be varied by deleting the figures "$418,500", "$1,441,510", "$331,100" and "$178,100" in the second column and substituting the figures "$424,300", "$1,481,400", "$301,500" and "$29,500", respectively.

Sir, it is proposed to increase the provisions for the Privy Purse and Salaries of personal staff to $424,300 and $1,481,400 respectively. The increases are due to a contingency provision for the possible payment of the Special Bonus in FY 88.

A sum of $301,500 is required to meet Expenses of the Istana household. This is a decrease of $29,600 and is due to lower expenditure on public utilities as well as reduced maintenance costs of furniture, equipment and motor vehicles.

The allocation under Special Services is also reduced from $178,100 to $29,500. This is because a "one-off" provision made in the current financial year for the replacement of the President's car and a van is no longer required.

It is, therefore, necessary to vary the provisions in the Schedule to the Civil List as follows:

for "The Privy Purse" from $418,500 to $424,300;

for "Salaries of personal staff" from $1,441,510 to $1,481,400;

for "Expenses of household" from $331,100 to $301,500; and

for "Special services" from $178,100 to $29,500.

Sir, I beg to move,

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament, pursuant to section 7 of the Civil List and Pension Act (Chapter 44) resolves that the Schedule to that Act be varied by deleting the figures "$418,500", "$1,441,510", "$331,100" and "$178,100" in the second column and substituting the figures "$424,300", "$1,481,400", "$301,500" and "$29,500", respectively.

Mr Speaker: Order. Pursuant to the resolution, this sitting is suspended and I shall take the Chair again at 3.30 pm.

Sitting accordingly suspended at 11.13 pm until 3.30 pm. Sitting resumed at 3.30 pm