ANNUAL BUDGET STATEMENT

Order read for Resumption of Debate on Question [2nd March, 1990] [2nd Allotted Day],

"That Parliament approves the financial policy of the Government for the financial year 1st April, 1990 to 31st March, 1991.". - [Minister for Finance].

Question again proposed. 12.37 pm

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Opposition cannot support the financial policy of the Government. The Straits Times calls it a "celebration budget". Who celebrates? The big businesses and the rich have reason to celebrate. They do not have to pay additional income tax. But for the poor, the small struggling businessmen and the workers, they do not celebrate. This latter categories of people do not have anything to celebrate about.

The Government has not offered them any worthwhile benefits at all. With the present high cost of living, rising cost of housing and motor-cars, the personal income tax relief of $2,000 is definitely not enough. The SDP recommends that it be increased to $3,000 to help the people in the lower income group. We also ask the Government to reduce the personal income tax ceiling to 30%.

It is time the Government did something more tangible for the man-in-the-street instead of collecting more and more from him. The Government boasts, year after year, to be able to have a surplus budget. What does it show? It simply shows that the Government policy and aim is to collect more and more money from the people. The main bulk of the revenue is not from profits of businesses but from people and other sources. If the surpluses of money are collected from the people, then it must be used for the benefit of the people instead of hoarding them.

We are told, year after year, that the Government has accumulated massive surpluses. An elected President is said to be necessary to help look after them. Now the Government is still budgeting for a surplus. The Government says its aim is to have a balanced budget but, year after year, it accumulates surpluses. If this is the policy of the Government, what is its implication? The people of Singapore have to pay more and more. This is nothing new to the people of Singapore. They have seen in the short 1 1/2 years since the last general election increases in petrol tax, increase in HDB carpark charges, increase in registration fees of cars, increase in school fees, increase in foreign maid levy, increase in hospital charges and a host of other increases due to the Government's fiscal policies.

If the Government continues to increase its levies, charges, licences, fees and taxes and the people are made to pay for all public services, there is no doubt that, come March 1991, the Minister will announce another budget surplus, as the sun will rise tomorrow. The Government must not be obsessed with aiming for a budget surplus. If this policy is to continue, the people will be poorer and suffer more while the Government gets richer year by year.

What is more important for the Minister in its financial policy is not to try to squeeze the people to the hilt to get another budget surplus. But, as the Member for Tiong Bahru GRC said yesterday, the Government must show a direction.

Our economy is reported to be booming now but only precariously. We are dependent on foreign workers to make this boom possible. The foreign workers in Singapore, unlike the foreign workers in Japan, Germany or other European countries, are made only to do manual or ancillary work and not directly involved in production. In Singapore, it is not the case. Foreign workers are directly involved in manufacture, construction and the tourist trade. All these sectors are our foreign exchange earners.

Another area of concern for the long term is that we are too dependent on foreign multinational companies for our wealth. They create about 60% of our demand of the economy. It is not healthy for an economy to be leaning so heavily on outsiders. Singapore has been taught a lesson in 1985 when many foreign multinational companies packed up and left us en bloc. Our economy suffered more than what it should. It nose-dived to a -1.8% growth. That lesson must be learned.

One lesson to learn is that multinational companies are very mobile. As soon as the business environment, for example, rising cost, does not suit them they can leave on very short notice. It will be remembered a few years back the Government in a state of desperation said that it would "high-tech, low-tech, medium-tech, in fact, any type of tech" as long as investments flow into Singapore.

With this kind of policy, most of the investments we have would most likely be not quality investments. If the technology is of a high quality, the investors would not come here because the wage element in high technology industries is low. Therefore, they would prefer to invest high technology industries in their home countries. It can be seen that we do have a problem in Singapore.

Investors come here because they want to exploit our relatively cheap workforce and make big profits. The pressure on our labour market will get worse and worse, and not better. The Minister should address all these serious problems but, maybe due to political reasons, he avoided them.

Now I come back to the question of direction. The Minister should indicate how he would solve our dependence on foreign companies and foreign workers. These problems admittedly are not easy to solve, not in the short-term at least. I do not think that multinational companies are generous enough to transfer their technology to us overnight so that we can manufacture for ourselves high value added goods. We as a nation must solve this difficult problem ourselves. If we hope to reach the level of the standard of living of the Western industrialised countries and become really rich, we must reduce the foreign component in our economy and increase the share of the local or indigenous industries. The Government's help to our local small and medium enterprises is a start, but I am afraid they will not get off the ground.

What do we mean when we say that Singapore must produce more indigenous or local multinational companies? To me, it means that we would have to reach or obtain the standard of technology or know-how of the Western industrialised countries. In order to reach that standard, we have not only to assist individual local companies, wherever possible, but I think the more important consideration is that we have to educate or change the attitude of our whole society. We must build a society that is production conscious, a society that is scientific, a society that is geared towards technology and industrial production. In order to attain such a society, I would recommend the Minister to implement two policies.

Firstly, for a start, to commit the State to a massive education programme so that every school leaver should be a trained person. If he or she does not go to a university or polytechnic, then train him or her in some form of skill or vocation. This policy is nothing new. The Japanese and the Europeans have this kind of a system since their industrial revolution.

Secondly, I think we should increase the cultural and intellectual standards of our population. I do not want to go into this difficult subject of what is culture and involve in a long debate on what culture is. Suffice for me to say that culture, in my context, does not simply mean knowledge of the arts, but it is a way of life, a cultured way of life. It is only if we have a cultured society that the society can be really disciplined, as shown by the Germans.

As for intellectualism, the aim must be to make the Singapore public, for a start, a reading public. I would like to see libraries established at all housing estates. These libraries should be easily accessible to the residents there. I know it is not easy for a country to get into the league of the Western industrialised nations but I would urge the Minister to consider my two proposals for a start.

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon (Yuhua): Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate.

I would like to congratulate the Finance Minister for the well-balanced and caring budget. Last year, the highlight of our budget was on the problems of procreation. This year, I see a follow-through of the Government's concern to encourage more women to work and have children. I fully support the Government's incentives to encourage women to have their second child before 31 years old with effect from 1st January 1990. I would like to remind the Minister that every child is precious to the parents and the nation. Incentives should also be given to parents who have voluntarily given birth to a second child before 31 years old. This is only fair to those mothers who have taken their own initiative to have their second child before 31 years old. After all, the cost of bringing up a child is the same regardless of which date the child is born. Therefore, I would like to suggest that as the tax rebate for the second child is valid for seven years, those women who have given birth to the second child within the last seven years before reaching 31 years old should be given the tax rebate on a pro rata basis. This means that, for example, a woman who gave birth to the second child before she was 29 years old and whose second child is now two years old should be allowed to claim the $20,000 tax rebate for the remaining five years.

On the same basis that every child is precious to us, I would like to urge the Minister to increase the general child relief for every child. I would like to propose that the present child relief be increased from $1,500 to $3,000 per child. Here, Sir, I would also like to draw the Minister's attention to the present practice that unmarried mothers are not eligible for tax relief for their children. I am not encouraging more unmarried mothers. However, for whatever reasons, unmarried mothers do exist in our society. As single parents, they are already facing many problems and hardship. I therefore urge the Minister to allow unmarried mothers to be entitled to claim for child relief.

Sir, when we try to solve our procreation problems and to encourage women to stay within the workforce, fiscal incentives are attractive. However, employment hours, working conditions, benefits and child care facilities for working mothers are also very crucial. After a few appeals by Backbenchers, we appreciate that the Minister for Finance has made certain progress by adopting a liberal approach in granting medical benefits to dependants of female employees who are sole supporters of their families. However, as the Minister knows, with increasing level of education of women, more and more women are now working. Women now contribute almost equally with their husbands to the family income. The statement that men are the sole breadwinners in families is no longer true. Hence, now that the economy has recovered, I would like to urge the Minister to consider granting medical benefits to dependants of all female employees in the civil service.

Besides granting monetary incentives to encourage more child births, the Government should also look into other means, such as flexi-time work, part-time work, home-based work, child care leave, child care centres, etc. The Government has done well in the area of child care leave by giving up to four years of child care leave. However, because the leave is subject to contingency of service, I have received some comments that not many female public employees have been able to make use of this child care leave due to shortage of manpower. Hence, I would like to ask the Minister to ease the procedures to allow more women employees to benefit from this scheme.

An alternative to flexi-time, part-time and child care leave is the presence of adequate child care centres or child care services. In recent years, the number of child care centres has increased rapidly. This is in no small way due to the financial support given by the Government in the form of capital grants and operational subsidies. However, the number of workplace child care centres still remains very small. Most of the current 20 workplace child care centres are set up by Government departments or statutory boards. Only five are operated by private employers. According to a recent NTUC survey on workplace child care centres, these centres have helped reduce staff turnover, staff absenteeism, ease recruitment and boost morale in the companies. These findings are confirmed by those in the USA. Therefore, to encourage more workplace child care centres, I would like to ask the Minister to consider giving tax incentives to encourage more companies to provide child care facilities to their employees.

Sir, I am sure that with better working arrangements, more fiscal incentives and better alternative child care centres or child care services, more working mothers will consider to have more children earlier and to stay working after having children and to have more children. 12.55 pm

Dr Augustine H.H. Tan (Whampoa): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to join my colleagues in this House to congratulate the Minister for Finance on the budget. I agree with many of my colleagues that it is a difficult budget to find fault with, because it bears the traditional hallmark of prudence. Mr Chiam See Tong just asked the question: what is there for us to celebrate in the budget? He should be reminded that not many countries in the world can boast of a budget surplus and a buoyant economy at the same time. We are celebrating an economy that offers its people full employment, in fact, over full employment because we have to import labour, adequate housing and a rising standard of living with low inflation. Perhaps Mr Chiam should visit those countries that suffer perennial or chronic budget deficits. Then he will realise the pain that is involved in order to solve those deficits. Those governments have to borrow money, beg money, and print money, causing their people tremendous distress and high unemployment together with inflation. So we have much to be thankful about and much to celebrate about.

I shall, however, endeavour to evaluate the budget in the light of Government's announced economic and social objectives, both short-term and long-term. First, may I review our economic performance for last year. The Economic Survey noted the slower growth rate in manufacturing, 9.9% last year as opposed to 18% in 1988. The commerce sector similarly had its growth rate halved to only 8.3%. And the report noted the slow-down of non-oil domestic exports and re-exports. Both the manufacturing and commerce sectors suffered lower growth because of external environment. The global economy slowed down. World trade slowed down from 8.5% to only 7%. And we had new competitors coming on to the world scene, particularly for us our neighbours, Thailand and Malaysia. We have paid much attention to the other newly industrialising countries in Asia, but I believe not much attention to the newly emerging industrialising countries. But we have certain strengths in our economy that we can maximise to our advantage.

First, is our sound fiscal system. Secondly, our high savings rate, which I believe is the highest in the world reaching 43% last year. Thirdly, the high savings rate together with a prudent fiscal policy enabled us to be a net exporter of capital to the extent of 8.9% of our GNP. As a proportion of GNP, our export of capital must surely rank among the highest in the world today. That is not a mean achievement at all. Fourthly, our rate of investment last year was a healthy 18% increase compared to 8.2% in 1988. What is especially encouraging about that investment last year was that nearly half comprised machinery and equipment and that will build up our productive capacity for the future.

The fifth thing to note about our strength last year was the recovery of the construction industry. We rejoice that from a -4.4% in 1988 the sector grew by 1.3% and it has been an accelerating rate of recovery because in the fourth quarter it was at the rate of 7%. But having highlighted these areas of strength, we should not forget that there are problem areas for us to look into. At this moment, relatively small problems but, if unchecked, these problems can fester and grow.

One concern of mine is that last year our money supply appeared to increase rather too rapidly. M1 increased by 14.9%, compared to 8.4% in 1988. M2 increased by 22.5%, compared to 13.5% in 1988; M3 by 21.2%, compared to 12% in 1988. This would seem to imply an under-valued exchange rate. If we are not careful we may repeat the experience of the early 1980s. Another indication that this is so is that the financial services sector grew by 21.7% last year and contributed about 32% of the total GDP growth. If you look at the volume of bank loans, it seems to indicate that a lot of the money credit went into speculative activities. At the same time, the CPI rose by 2.4%, still low by international standards but, by Singaporean standards, higher than usual and therefore we ought to take note. The Economic Survey says that the cause was largely local but I believe a stronger Singapore dollar could have reduced the CPI.

Another and perhaps more serious concern is the productivity wage gap. For 1985 to 1987 the rate of productivity increase was greater than the rate of wage increase. That, I believe, helped our recovery. But in 1988 and 1989 our wage increases were greater than our productivity increases. From 1980 to 1984 we had a similar experience, namely, wages outstripped productivity increases. The result of this for last year was that the share of wages in the GDP rose from 40% to 41%. Of course, we all want our workers to enjoy higher standards of living and a bigger share of the economic pie. But at the same time we do need to look at the gap between productivity and wages.

I have got two puzzles for the Finance Minister. One is in regard to the actual wage increase. In his Budget Statement he mentioned that nominal wages rose by 12.5% and that implied that real wages rose by 10.1%. The Economic Survey, however, stated that nominal wages rose by 10.3% and real wages 7.9%. Quite clearly there is a discrepancy. At the same time, Appendix Table A6.7 of the Economic Survey showed that the wages for professionals rose only by 7.8%; clerical workers and so on, 7.6%; production workers, 8.8%. These are averages and yet produced an overall average for all workers of 10.3%. I am just wondering how that average was arrived at. Obviously, somebody did not look at the figures properly.

My second puzzle has to do with the measurement of productivity. In the Economic Survey it was noted that last year productivity increased by 4.8% per worker. But if you adjust for hours of work, the productivity increase was only 2.5%, in other words, it was much lower. The conclusion of the Economic Survey was that the higher output was achieved by workers working longer hours but with decreasing marginal productivity. I suggest that there is a little problem with the figures here. I believe that the Bill to cane illegal workers caused an apparent drop in productivity. How did this come about?

In a footnote in one of the tables of the Economic Survey, it is stated that large numbers of illegal workers were legalized last year. I believe that inflated the number of recorded workers, particularly in construction. Therefore, construction reputedly achieved a negative 3.9% decrease in productivity. I cannot believe that figure at all. I believe we need to tighten our measures, especially on productivity, if we want to guide Government policy in the right way.

Sir, I know we have done a lot to improve productivity in Singapore, particularly to upgrade skills and to improve the avenues for education, including technical and tertiary education. I commend these efforts. However, we should all take note that the workers who need help the most, namely, those over the age of 40 have resisted the acquisition of skills and/or retraining. The Economic Survey noted that only 5.7% of the 208,500 training places given by the Skills Development Fund were taken up by workers who were more than 40 years of age. Clearly, we need to do more to encourage the older workers to acquire greater skills and retraining.

Another problem which no Member has touched upon, neither has the Finance Minister, is a problem of rising rents and interest rates. There is no discussion of the possible impact of both of these on business costs. I believe that if one looks at the experience of 1980 to 1984, one of the factors that made us uncompetitive was rising rents and rising interest rates. We are now at a point in the business cycle where the construction industry is reviving, precisely because the existing capacity, both residential, commercial and hotel have been taken up or are being taken up rapidly, and rents are therefore rising. It will take some time before new capacity is added. Therefore, I would urge the Government to monitor rising rents rather carefully and not to exacerbate the problem by increasing rents for the public sector unduly. At the same time, Sir, with hotel occupancy at very high levels, hotel rates are on the rise and will continue to rise this year. This will have some adverse impact on tourism.

May I briefly review our tax measures? Members would have noted that the Finance Minister gave away $168 million, the figures he actually gave for certain tax rebates. But of course there were other tax incentives which he gave for which he gave no estimate of what is the cost in terms of revenue. This is an area of some concern to me. I raised this issue last year and I would like to repeat it again that I would like to see a proper study of the cost and benefits of tax incentives. We have now given a host of tax incentives. In fact, I think a new industry is flourishing, teaching people how to take advantage of our tax incentives. With such a bewildering array, it is time for a proper evaluation and I hope by the time of the next budget, before the Minister asks for further tax incentives he had better give us an accounting of what has been achieved so far.

In his Budget Statement the Minister said that this year he is going to introduce legislation for a comprehensive goods and services tax. The idea, I suppose, is gradually to replace the income and corporate tax and allow further reductions in these rates and to shift more to indirect taxes. I would appeal to the Minister to reconsider this seriously because indirect taxes, such as consumption taxes, are very regressive. Look at the recent example in Japan where the LDP nearly lost its majority because of the consumption tax. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the UK is now in trouble because she boldly introduced a Poll Tax, that means a head tax on everybody in Britain.

Sir, one of the perceptive writers in the Straits Times made the comment that equity issues are very much in view today in Singapore. We have reached a certain point in our development where we have to be concerned not merely for efficiency but also for equity. I believe there are real political constraints. I would not like to see all that we have achieved over 30 years wiped out simply because the electorate does not like a consumption tax and therefore gets rid of the PAP Government. Further, I believe a consumption tax is very messy, a value-added tax is particularly messy for a trading economy, for entrepot activities and for tourism. First of all, many of our small enterprises lack a clear accounting system. The typical Chinese businessman keeps three sets of accounts - one for himself, one for his partner, and one for the Government.

I have an alternative proposal to make to the Government. Firstly, the Government saves all the surpluses each year instead of giving away by way of tax rebates in order to earn investment income in the future. Members would note that last year investment income gave us 30.7% of total Government revenue, ie, nearly one-third of Government revenue came from investment income. There is no reason why this source of income, this source of revenue, cannot increase if we continue to be prudent in our fiscal policy and save the surpluses instead of giving them away each year. Secondly, in line with this, the Government should trim the size of the public sector. The Government alone in terms of its expenditure accounted for 19% of the GNP last year. If you add the 10 statutory boards, the percentage was 33.7%. If you count revenue as a percentage of GNP, Government accounted for 27.5% last year and Government plus the 10 statutory boards, 45.1%. In other words, the public sector as a whole commands a sizable portion of our economy. I believe that efficiency would require the public sector to scale down some of these activities. The surplus of the Government alone was 8.5% of the GNP last year and inclusive of the 10 statutory boards 11.3% of GNP. That has added to our savings. At the same time, we should allow a more creative environment suitable for a high-tech economy. I believe that if we allow the mass media greater private channels and if we allow private schools, private colleges and private universities to be established, I believe that we can greatly facilitate the acquisition of high technology and much needed information for a modern economy.

Finally, Sir, may I briefly deal with some global developments. This year, in the global economy, there is concern with inflation and therefore interest rates are likely to rise. And if interest rates rise, stock markets are likely to be dampened. For the US itself, I believe that the probability of recession is low. But for Japan, it has to do a balancing act between a higher Yen or stronger asset values; in other words, to have higher interest rates or lower interest rates. It becomes a problem for Japan. But we need to look at what is happening in Eastern Europe. Firstly, the German reunification and its impact on Europe and the EEC. And secondly, more importantly, the capital requirements to re-construct Eastern Europe might mean a diversion of capital from other parts of the world. Again, another factor likely to push up interest rates.

What are the implications for Singapore? I believe, a tougher international environment. We have to watch the competition, particularly our new competitors, like Thailand, Malaysia. We need to exploit new markets, and I am glad that the Trade Development Board is already trying to get to Eastern Europe. We need to improve productivity, properly measured, and we need to avoid over-heating. So I say - watch the money supply!

Mr Loh Meng See (Kampong Glam): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the motion standing in the name of the Finance Minister.

Sir, it would be unfortunate if because the Budget is pro-business, it is not also a budget that is pro working man, except possibly with the understanding that what benefits business also benefits the working man. But I think what is important as we step into the new decade, as Dr Tan has earlier mentioned, is that in the abundance that we have and the surpluses that we have enjoyed over the years, how best the Government can re-distribute the wealth to enlarge our middle-class and possibly to reduce as much as possible the lower income category. Given the circumstances, the Budget does reflect the time, the Budget operates in a very dynamic situation, and I believe prudence is at the back of the mind of the Finance Minister. But I thought that he could have given a good start as he considered the granting of the across-the-board once-off rebate of 5% on personal income tax for the Year of Assessment 1990. We have always felt that the income tax burden should be progressive in nature and therefore the granting of the rebate should also follow that consistency.

I see that the estimated revenue loss of $60 million is likely to be given back proportionately more to the higher income earners than those of the lower income category. In that sense, it has become regressive. The Minister could have re-distributed on the basis of higher rebates for the lower taxpayers, for example, 10% for those paying tax of less than $2,000, 7(r)% for those paying tax of $2,000 to $5,000, and 5% for those above $5,000, and maybe have a ceiling that beyond $20,000 you do not get any rebate.

But I think what is very significant a concern to me, Sir, is the subject of inflation and cost of living. It is evident that since 1986, our Consumer Price Index has been on the rise. In 1989, the CPI rose by 2.4% as against 1.5% in 1988. It has been estimated that our inflation rate will go up further in 1990 beyond 3%. According to the Economic Survey, inflation rate went up in 1989 despite the strong Singapore dollar and it has attributed the source of inflation to local factors. And I believe it is the cost-push inflation that is taking place. Higher wages are demanded not only because of the labour shortage situation in Singapore but also, I believe, on account of the higher cost of living.

I agree that there should be moderation in the wage increases in order to allow our businesses to compete internationally. Nevertheless, efforts must be made to contain the increases in the price levels, especially in the basic essentials. Transportation, school fees, medical charges all square up and add up to increase costs to our people.

The goods and services tax, if introduced, should be carefully considered and done in such a way that it will not lead to accelerated increases in the general price levels. For this would certainly affect the living standards of the average working Singaporean.

Another thing that adds on to cost is the 4.5% increase in property tax rate from 11.5% to 16% to the already high cost of properties. This must invariably lead to higher cost of rentals which would be passed on to the customers, the poor local consuming public. Here I believe the Minister for National Development can help. We can allow the HDB offices and shops to remain economical to operate, so that our citizens can continue to enjoy the basic necessities at affordable prices.

On the extension of post-pioneer status, we have seen the merit in wanting to extend the post-pioneer status to companies undertaking approved activities for a period of 10 years at a concessionary rate of 10%. I agree that it is good to encourage these pioneer companies to continue to operate in Singapore and for them to upgrade their operations. But, Sir, can some schemes not be found to help excellent local small and medium-sized enterprises to obtain the equivalent of pioneer status to be taxed at the concessionary rate? If we can give incentives to attract foreign companies, why can we not do the same for our very own local companies? This at least will help our local SMEs to compete and upgrade themselves.

On procreation incentives, I am afraid that we have relied on the "cold" statistics to make us believe that the trend of delayed child-bearing can easily be reversed by the granting of tax incentives. Worse still, we can even specify exactly when the working mothers ought to have the first and second births before they can enjoy the tax incentives.

Sir, the difficulties faced by our working mothers are complex. For a start, more of them are staying longer in schools. Some university courses take a long time to complete. They have to look for a job after graduation. If they have already a partner, the man must be encouraged to marry early as well. It is never easy especially at the early stage in wanting to build up one's career. What about the home and accommodation? There is the cost and the waiting period involved.

I would prefer that the ages be specified such that all women who give birth to the second child before 31 years will be eligible for the $15,000 tax incentive, and before 28 years $20,000 tax rebate so that we do not differentiate it on a year-by-year basis.

Foreign worker policy. The Minister for Labour has given indications that the employment of foreign workers might be subjected to a market-based mechanism or quota system in working out the foreign worker levy. Underlying this, Sir, is a tacit acceptance that foreign workers do contribute in sustaining the momentum of our economic growth. I believe it will be so for a while, and that we have to accept foreign or guest workers as a fact of life in Singapore. But I think the consideration must be that if we are able and prepared to pay the high levy, is there a guarantee that we will continue to have them? Is it good for us to have them? And I think it is important for us to address this issue. It is not just of economic nature but of social concern as well.

But I think the importation of guest workers must also serve as a reminder to all Singaporeans that there is always competition to the jobs that we hold. We have to instil in the minds of Singapore workers that positive work attitudes and good work ethics are of crucial importance, that it does not benefit workers if they job-hop, that employers are only prepared to train their staff if there is a commitment to a reasonable tenure of service.

But one stark reality is that, Sir, our population is greying and aging. We must get employers to employ more women and older workers for I believe they are still useful assets to any organisation and they should be retained and retrained as they provide stability in the workplace.

The Singapore workers must be made to understand that there is always the competition from the workers in other countries who are determined in catching up or even overtake us, never mind whether they are working in or outside Singapore.

I am pleased that the Government will continue to complement and blend the foreign worker component with that of our local workforce to bring the best in our economic growth. With a growing economic pie, we can then share the economic wealth and higher standards of living to a larger number of Singaporeans.

Dr Low Seow Chay (Chua Chu Kang): ( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the motion by the Finance Minister.

Today, I am talking about Research and Development allotment for this year which has increased greatly, by 50%. The Minister has said that in the coming five years the R&D expenditure will be increased to 1% of GNP. This means that every year we will have about over 30% growth. Because of our political stability, good infrastructure and high quality labour force, our industries are able to shift away from the traditional labour intensive activities to those of the high value added ones. Sizeable foreign investments of this kind pour into Singapore. Our entrepreneurs are also joining the rank of high value added industries. In view of the increasing educational level and emphasis on technical education of NIEs, many of them will forge ahead and become our competitors in the years to come. They will be more competitive than us. So, in order to avoid such a difficult situation of lagging behind in future, we must explore new avenues, imporve all the favourable factors and promote R&D. Through R&D we should be able to master new technology and create more innovative products. In doing so, we could ensure that we will be always ahead of our potential competitors.

In the present budget, the Minister has generously allotted a large sum of money to help research and development work. This shows that our Minister is farsighted and at the same time this goes to show that we are determined to go along R&D line. This would not only strengthen our competitiveness but also be able to produce more researchers and R&D personnel and further improve our capability in this field. Ultimately, it will help Singapore to be developed into a regional R&D centre.

Viewing from old statistics, in 1987 and 1988 the public sector spent 40% on R&D, while the private sector spent only 60%. As the private sector is larger than the public sector, this shows that the private sector is lagging behind the public sector in this field. I hope the Government will stimulate and encourage more of our private sector, particularly the medium and small industries to pay more attention to and take part in R&D, through some concessions and financial assistance schemes when our economy is turning around now. Sir, I support the motion.

Dr Ong Chit Chung (Bukit Batok): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the motion standing in the name of the Minister for Finance.

Sir, it is indeed a painless budget. Some say that the pain is in-between budgets, and budget day is a non-event. Others think that it will encourage our gentlemen to go for younger ladies in order to reap the benefits of the procreation rebates. The more senior ladies, I am afraid, would be less attractive -I mean fiscally, and not necessarily physically. Be it as it may, we must congratulate the Government for delivering another good year to us. At the same time, we should bear in mind that this is only possible with the cooperation of the workers and businessmen. Though the Government sets the directions, we must salute the workers for their self-sacrifices and applaud the businessmen for their initiative and entrepreneurship.

Sir, last week, I attended a committee meeting where grants or bursaries for needy students were discussed. Members around the table, all highly qualified and successful professionals and businessmen, expressed surprise, indeed shock, that there are people in Singapore with family incomes of $300-$500 per month. The question is: are we aware of the plight of the poor in our midst? Is their cry for help heard?

The poor or less privileged are finding it more and more difficult to make ends meet. Costs are rising and rising. To them, Singapore is becoming less and less affordable. Privatisation, restructuring and cost accounting are the "in" things these days. These are well and good, a necessary part of the on-going economic rationalisation. But in doing all these, we must be ever mindful of the social angle, and ask ourselves from time to time whether we are moving too fast in privatisation or doing enough to help cushion the effects for those who cannot for the time being catch up.

The standard response is that there are bursaries, waivers of fees, public assistance scheme and so on and so forth. But are the criteria applied too stringent or too restrictive? Sir, I am not asking for a welfare state, which is a dirty word, with all its attendant ills and idleness, nor asking for equality of pay or rewards, but that more be done to help promote equality of opportunity so that the less fortunate can rise up in society.

Sir, since its election in 1959, this Government has done much to improve the lot of the less privileged in education, in housing, and other areas of public life. This is well and good, but much needs to be done and we must be seen to be doing it. Let us work at it and not lose the common touch.

Mr Goh Chee Wee (Boon Lay): Mr Speaker, Sir, allow me to give a very short speech of two minutes.

Mr Speaker: It is a good idea!.

Mr Goh Chee Wee: Sir, during the debate on the Budget Statement last year, I commented on the Government's tax incentive scheme to encourage procreation. The Minister for Finance announced then that the $20,000 special tax rebate would be extended to the fourth child. I pointed out that it was not sufficient just giving tax incentives to parents to have the third or fourth child. A pressing problem was that people were getting married late. For instance, in 1977, the average marriage age for men was 27 1/2 years. In 1987, it had risen to 29 years. For women, the average age of marriage was 24 in 1977 and it went up to 26 in 1987. And for the better educated women, their marriage age was even later.

Associated with this problem was the delay of child birth. As the Minister put it, from 1980 to 1989, the median age of mothers at first birth increased from 25.3 to 27.4 years of age and for the second birth, the median age of the mother increased from 27.6 to 29.8 years. I therefore suggested last year and I quote what I said:

'... a complete review should be made on the present incentive scheme and formulate a comprehensive and drastic policy to encourage people to get married early and have babies early through tax incentives and other methods.' [Hansard, Vol. 53, col. 93].

Specifically, I suggested that the Government gives tax rebates as incentives to those who get married and have children early. When I made this proposal, I suppose no one took my suggestion seriously. No one really paid much attention to what I proposed because I was not a Minister. I am now really glad that the Minister for Finance has decided to implement tax incentives along the lines that I proposed.

Sir, I support the way the incentive scheme is packaged, ie, a larger quantum of tax rebate is to be given to women who have their second child at an earlier age. Although some Members of this House have suggested extending the tax incentives to all women, irrespective of their age, or raising the cut-off age which qualifies for the second child tax rebate, I still believe that some differentiation according to the woman's age is necessary. I am not against giving incentives to all women for having a second child. I think the suggestion merits consideration. But the present incentive scheme is introduced to address a very specific problem, ie, of late marriage and of late child birth. So the Government must therefore give a clear signal, a signal to the men and women that they stand to gain more by settling down and having their children early. If we give the same quantum of rebate to all, regardless of the age of the women at which the child is delivered, then we are not sending a clear and right signal.

Sir, I support the financial policy of the Government and that, of course, includes the one on procreation.

Mr Speaker: Order. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair again at 2.15 pm.

Sitting accordingly suspended at 1.42 pm until 2.15 pm. Sitting resumed at 2.15 pm.