REMUNERATION OF SPEAKER

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Mr Speaker, Sir, it is my pleasant duty to move this motion* standing in my name as it appears in item 10 of the Order Paper.

*The motion reads as follows:

That, pursuant to Article 41 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, with effect from 1st April, 1989, the Speaker shall be paid --

(a) a basic salary of $28,100 per month ($11,240 per month on part-time appointment);

(b) all such monthly variable component, 13th-month non-pensionable annual allowance and non-pensionable variable bonus as would be payable to office-holding Members of Parliament; and

(c) a non-pensionable annual fixed service bonus computed on the basis of two months' basic salary and the monthly variable component.

Article 41 of the Singapore Constitution states that the Speaker shall be paid such salary as Parliament may from time to time determine. The salary of the Speaker was last determined by the House at $17,400 per month with effect from 1st November 1982 by resolution of this House passed on 3rd December 1982. As the then Speaker was only performing duties on a part-time basis, the House then fixed his salary at $9,500 per month.

On 23rd March, 1989 the First Deputy Prime Minister announced the revision of salaries and allowances of office-holders, Members ofParliament and other statutory appointments, namely, the President, the Chief Justice, Speaker, Chairman, PSC and the Attorney-General. Parliament needs to pass a resolution on the salary of the Speaker to put it into effect.

Sir, you are also performing your duties part-time and you prefer to continue to do so and to manage your business as well. Since becoming Speaker, in addition to presiding at our proceedings when Parliament is in session, you have been spending most of your afternoons every week in your office in Parliament dealing with parliamentary matters. It is therefore proposed that your salary, Sir, be a basic salary of $11,240 per month since you are a part-time Speaker.

The House was also informed by the First Deputy Prime Minister that the President, Chief Justice, Chairman, PSC and the Attorney-General will receive a fixed bonus or service bonus of two months instead of a performance bonus. The First Deputy Prime Minister also said this fixed service bonus of two months will apply to the Speaker.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That, pursuant to Article 41 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, with effect from 1st April, 1989, the Speaker shall be paid -

(a) a basic salary of $28,100 per month ($11,240 per month on part-time appointment);

(b) all such monthly variable component, 13th-month non-pensionable annual allowance and non-pensionable variable bonus as would be payable to office-holding Members of Parliament; and

(c) a non-pensionable annual fixed service bonus computed on the basis of two months' basic salary and the monthly variable component.